LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Nittany Lions' offense was too much for the Cardinals Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. Penn State defeated Louisville 3-1 to capture the 2024 NCAA Championship, ending the team's five-match win streak and NCAA Tournament dominance. 

History was made with Katie Schumacher-Cawley becoming the first female coach in the NCAA Volleyball Championship's history to win the national title, defeating Dani Busboom Kelly's team in front of 21,860 fans. Her win comes amid a battle with breast cancer since Oct. 2024. 

“I think being up here in this moment is always tough, and you just have so many emotions from the loss but also the end of some amazing careers ... but then you’re also very thankful for what this team did and that we were here," Busboom Kelly said. 

The Nittany Lions took set one 25-23, after junior middle blocker Maggie Mendelson broke a 23-all tie with a kill followed by a service ace from graduate student outside hitter Jess Mruzik.

Set two saw the Cardinals rally back from multiple deficits of as many as six points. The momentum shift came when the Cardinals rallied down five 24-19 to tie the set at 24 apiece, led by multiple kills from senior outside hitter Charitie Luper. The teams went neck and neck in extra points before Louisville broke through after a 32-all tie, thanks to a Luper kill and a block assist from senior outside hitter Sofia Maldonado Diaz to take the set 34-32. 

Louisville Women's Volleyball players watch from the sidelines Dec. 22, 2024, during the NCAA Championship match against Penn State. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas)

Kills from Mendelson, Mruzik and graduate student outside hitter Camryn Hannah led Penn State in set three, as the Nittany Lions took the set 25-20 for a 2-1 lead in the match. 

It was all Penn State in set four, with Hannah recording the match-winning point off a kill to take the set 25-17 and the match. 

“I just like to win; I like to compete, and I like to help our players be the best they can," Schumacher-Cawley said. "This is pretty cool, though. As a coach … it’s pretty neat.”

Quinn Menger, Penn State senior defensive specialist, credited the Cardinals for their effort.

“They’re a great team, and they deserve to be here," Menger said. "The fact that they stole a set from us; they played a great game. We, in the locker room, recognized what a great team they are, what a great set they played, the grit they had in that set. And we were about to go and have a great set of our own.”

Penn State outhit Louisville .263 to .177. Luper and Maldonado Diaz led the Cardinals with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Senior libero Elena Scott led the team in digs with 24 while redshirt junior middle blocker Cara Cresse led in total blocks with seven. Freshman setter Nayelis Cabello tallied 31 assists. 

Fans said they were hopeful their team would win but also excited about the historic moment, with two female coaches at the helm 

"That is absolutely amazing," said UofL fan Amy Doolittle-Crider. "Obviously, we want Louisville to win. But no matter what, it is going to be a great day for women’s sports and women coaching."

This was the Cardinals' second national championship in three years. This time, they got the chance to compete on their home court.