VARSITY VIEWS

The Penn State connection on the USWNT is a special one for Krieger and WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL GOLD STANDARD Naeher, who have had to compete with the likes of North Carolina alumnae such Penn Staters and help lift the U.S. to a Women’s World Cup title as , , Lions 8th in preseason rankings and . However, Penn State’s 19 Big Ten titles and 2015 NCAA champi - SHAWN MEDOW | BLUE WhitE contriBUtor Penn State was ranked eighth in the City, La., earlier this month, with onship keep the Nittany Lions on the na - season’s first American Volleyball victories over No. 23 Kazakhstan, No. tional stage. ASADENA, Calif. – The biggest mo - and held us at a high level, and that Coaches Association Division I Top 16 Bulgaria and No. 11 Argentina. The “The Penn State vibe with our alumni is Pment of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s helped us going forward as professionals.” 25, which was released on Aug. 13. U.S. squad entered the event as the just something that I cherish and feel like career came in the 84th minute of the The team arrived back home to a ticker The Nittany Lions, who have been third-ranked team in the world. we’re so connected no matter what year semifinal in the 2019 FIFA Women’s tape parade in New York. Fellow Penn nationally ranked in 443 consecutive “It feels amazing,” Washington you graduated or what experience you World Cup in , . State alum and defender Ali Krieger polls dating to the end of the 1988 said. “There was a point where I was had,” Krieger said. She and the tournament-favorite United shared a float with Naeher, and the two season, are one of seven Big Ten on the floor, and I was in this moment Naeher didn’t follow a straight path to States Women’s National Team had a 2-1 couldn’t help but notice that their alma teams in this year’s preseason poll. where I was [thinking], ‘We are play - her starting spot on the USWNT. She was lead over England. But that lead was 12 mater was represented in the crowds lin - Ranked ahead of Penn State to start ing to go to the Olympics right now.’ a backup to , who was the yards away from being erased. A converted ing the streets of the city. the season are No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 That’s what this match meant. It is starter in the 2015 World Cup and is con - penalty kick for England would more than “Every person we saw who wore a Penn Minnesota, No. 5 Wisconsin, and No. surreal. It is amazing. I am excited for sidered to be the best goalie the women’s likely send the match to extra time. NAEHER KRIEGER State shirt or memorabilia, we were 6 Illinois. Two other Big Ten teams the next grind and going to Tokyo.” game has seen. Solo had her contract ter - England captain Stephanie Houghton shouting each other out like, ‘Oh my God, are in the top 20, with Michigan The U.S. posted a 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, minated after the 2016 Olympic Games, took a short four steps to the ball and but to be good people and how to priori - look!’ ” Krieger said. “Having that con - ranked 15th and Purdue 17th. 25-23) win over Argentina in the final where the USWNT was bounced by Swe - struck it to her left. Naeher dived to her tize things and mentally prepare for nection with your alumni is pretty amaz - Penn State plays 12 matches against match to clinch an Olympic berth. den in the quarterfinals – the team’s ear - right, directly into the path of the rolling things. She treated us like professionals ing. You don’t find that everywhere.” nine nationally ranked teams this sea - Washington contributed five kills on liest exit in a major tournament. shot. She grabbed the ball and held it son, including four against noncon - 11 attacks, two blocks and two aces, “I never got wrapped up in that, it tight. ference opponents. The Nittany Lions while Courtney was unofficially cred - wasn’t my focus,” Naeher said. “She had “She saved our ass in that moment,” co- host No. 1 Stanford – the defending ited with a 50 positive reception per - her career, a great career. It was my op - captain said afterward. WOMEN’S SOCCER national champion – and No. 11 Ore - cent on 26 chances and added 11 digs. portunity now for this next chapter, so The held on to win, 2-1, gon as part of the Big Ten/Pac 12 In July, the Penn State duo had I’m just proud that I was able to help this before reclaiming the World Cup title in PSU trio named to Hermann Trophy watch list Challenge on Sept. 13-14. The Lions helped lift the U.S. team to victory in team win this year.” the final against the Netherlands – a 2-0 are also scheduled to play two matches the Volleyball Nations League, with Naeher had big gloves to fill, not only as shutout for Naeher. She allowed only Penn State players , Coast Conference and was a semifi - against No. 12 Pittsburgh, which won Washington winning Best Blocker the starting goalie for the best national three goals over the course of the team’s Sam Coffey and Frankie Tagliaferri nalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. the Atlantic Coast Conference title honors and Courtney being named team in the world, but also as a leader on seven games. have been named to the MAC Her - She tallied 38 points on 12 goals and 14 last season. The Panthers will come to Best Libero. But Courtney said that the field. “Our coaches did a great job preparing mann Trophy watch list for college assists while playing for the Eagles . Rec Hall on Sept. 20 and will host the title was just a stepping stone. “I think Alyssa is kind of a quiet leader. us for every situation,” Naeher said at the soccer’s top honor. The MAC Her - Tagliaferri, a junior from Colts second match of the series at the Pe - “We talk about it all the time,” she She’s not trying to be someone she’s not,” Rose Bowl after the United States began mann Trophy is presented annually to Neck, N.J., was tied for the team lead tersen Events Center on Sept. 22. said following the Americans’ victory said , a USWNT co-captain its Victory Tour by defeating Ireland, 3- the United Soccer Coaches National with 19 points last season, scoring The Lions will open their season over Argentina. “This was our big and 2016 FIFA World Player of the Year. 0, on Aug. 3. “Everything they could see Players of the Year in NCAA Division seven goals and adding five assists. later this month when they host the goal for the year. The VNL win was “She does her job, she does it to the best coming, we prepared for. You’ve got four I in men’s and women’s soccer as She earned first-team All-Region and Penn State Classic. Hofstra, Holy good, but our main tournament was of her ability every single day and she years to prepare for something like that.” voted on by Division I coaches. first-team All-Big Ten honors for her Cross and Wichita State are set to focusing on the Olympic qualifier. We goes out, she tries to get better and you In the Lyon crowd, Naeher’s twin sister Riehl, a senior from Fairfax Station, performance. compete in the four-team, six-match took care of business, although it can always count on her.” and parents jumped with joy, while Nae - Va., was named a semifinalist for the Two Nittany Lions have won the event, which will take place Aug. 30- wasn’t easy, teams definitely didn’t At 31 years old, Naeher is one of 11 play - her’s Penn State coach, Erica Dambach, MAC Hermann Trophy in 2018 after MAC Hermann Trophy. Raquel Ro - 31 at Rec Hall. give it to us. We had to earn it. Just ers on the national team who are age 30 or filmed and tweeted a video from her seat anchoring a PSU defense that allowed driguez claimed the award in 2015, as PSU GRADS TOKYO-BOUND Penn really excited for this team’s opportu - older. She has been helping develop some in the stadium. only 13 goals all season. She was named she led the Nittany Lions to their first State alumnae Haleigh Washington nity to play in Tokyo.” of the younger players who may play piv - Naeher played in 78 games at Penn State a first-team All-American and claimed national championship, while and Megan Courtney played integral The victory over Kazakhstan came otal roles in next summer’s Tokyo and said her time in University Park pre - Big Ten Defender of the Year honors. won it in 2001. roles as the U.S. Women’s National in straight sets, and Team USA added Olympics and in the 2023 World Cup. pared her for a career as the starting Coffey transferred from Boston Col - Penn State began its 2019 season Volleyball Team secured an automatic a come-from-behind win in five sets “Keep grinding away and working hard goalie for the four-time world champi - lege, where she won first-team All- ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer bid to the 2020 Summer Olympics in over Bulgaria. Washington chipped in and wait for your opportunity,” Naeher ons. America honors as a sophomore last Coaches poll. Defending national Tokyo. five kills on nine attacks, four blocks said. “When you have it, be ready for it. “I learned how to be a professional,” season. A resident of Sleepy Hollow, champion Florida State garnered 33 The former Nittany Lions helped and an ace for 10 points against Bul - Control what you can control. I’m just said Naeher, who plays club soccer for the N.Y., Coffey received Midfielder of the of 35 first-place votes to open the the United States go 3-0 in the Pool C garia. Courtney provided 25 recep - glad that when the opportunity came, I NWSL’s . “[Dambach] Year accolades from the Atlantic season ranked No. 1. I Qualification Tournament in Bossier tions and nine digs. I taught us not just how to be good players was ready for it.” I

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