Penn State volleyball’s Caroline Jurevicius has emerged as one of the biggest stars. An ex-Nebraska Husker, Jurevicius joined the Nittany Lions as a redshirt freshman. The outside hitter has already crossed the 200-kill mark in her first year playing with Penn State. However, the Cleveland, Ohio, native has come to the forefront during some of Penn State’s most high-stakes matches.

After spending a year with the Huskers as a redshirt freshman, Jurevicius became the star of the show during the BIG10 title match. While the momentum was with the Nebraska Huskers, Jurevicius performed incredibly against her former team. Now heading into their regional final against Creighton, the hitter recalled her time with NU and how it affected her career.

“I think that we go through everything in life for a reason, and I wouldn’t take back my time at Nebraska for anything,” said the Penn State volleyball standout. She may have been the key to defeating Nebraska, where Penn State earned a share of the BIG10 title for the first time in years. However, that may only have been possible because of what she learned at NU.

“I learned a lot about myself and learned a lot about the game of volleyball from a great coach. (A) team with some great girls on it. So I’m grateful. I’m here, and I’m grateful that all of my experiences there have led me here,” explained Caroline Jurevicius. Jurevicius’s words echoed those she spoke after defeating NU in the BIG10 title match.

“I have nothing but love and respect for the Nebraska Volleyball Program. I am very, very thankful for that program,” the hitter told Michella Chester. However, Jurevicius and Co. also spoke about their upcoming clash with Creighton Volleyball. The Nittany Lions showed similar respect for their opponents ahead of the Elite Eight clash.

Penn State volleyball is gunning for the title and a possible rematch

“They’re incredible people, and they’re incredible Setters and everything and how they run their court, how they run their team, and that you can just see the confidence they have in the core,” explained Penn State volleyball’s Izzy Starck. However, that doesn’t mean the Nittany Lions aren’t confident in their own abilities.

After derailing Nebraska Huskers’ from becoming outright BIG10 champions, Penn State has earned a confidence boost. When asked about their goal for the NCAA tournament, Caroline Jurevicius explained just how crucial the victory against NU was. “I think we just kind of solidified like, ‘Yeah, we should be here. We’re Penn State volleyball, and we’re gonna defend our house,'” Jurevicius said after beating Nebraska.

The Nittany Lion’s confidence in Penn State’s ability to win the 2024 NCAA Championship is well-founded, but the road ahead is challenging. Creighton’s impressive upset of the defending champions, Texas, proves they’re a formidable opponent, and Penn State will need to bring their best game to advance. If they succeed, a potential semifinal clash against the winner of Nebraska vs. Wisconsin looms large—a matchup that would undoubtedly bring fireworks. Both Nebraska and Wisconsin are powerhouses in their own right, with strong performances throughout the season. A rematch in the NCAA semifinals seems very possible, and it would be a thrilling showdown for fans. Who do you think will come out on top? Share your thoughts!