Maggie Mendelson ended her 2024 volleyball season with a national championship at Penn State after finishing as runner-up the year before with Nebraska.
But unlike most athletes, Mendelson spent the offseason training both volleyball and basketball — a sport she played her freshman year with the Cornhuskers.
Mendelson announced her intent to play for coach Carolyn Kieger on June 25, becoming the first two-sport athlete at Penn State since the 2018-19 season, when Mac Hippenhammer played football and baseball.
Coming out of high school, Mendelson was ranked as the No. 4 volleyball athlete and No. 32 basketball player in the country.
Though Mendelson lacks substantial collegiate experience, after taking a two year hiatus from basketball,these three things from her championship-winning volleyball background should translate into her becoming a strong center for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State outside hitter Jess Mruzik (9) blocks an attack from St. John’s with middle blocker Maggie Mendelson (44) in the Penn State Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Red Flash 3-0.
Noah Aberegg
Winning at the highest level
Mendelson has seen postseason success every year she’s been in college, and that includes both volleyball and basketball.
In her first year with the Cornhuskers, Mendelson made it to the NCAA Regional Semifinals in volleyball, where they ultimately fell short. A few months later, she helped the basketball squad to the WNIT Super 16, appearing in all three games of the tournament.
During the 2023 season, Mendelson fell three sets short of a national championship with Nebraska.
However, she didn’t let that hinder her determination. After transferring to Penn State, Mendelson helped the Nittany Lions win their first national title since 2014.
Mendelson will bring that winning mindset to the Lady Lions, a team that was hoping to turn the page and have substantial postseason success just two years ago.
Height, height, height
Mendelson comes to the Lady Lions as a 6-foot-5 center, pairing up with 6-foot-6 Gracie Merkle.
The duo marks Penn State’s tallest group since the 2014-15 season.
Middle blocker Maggie Mendelson (44) spikes the ball during Penn State women’s volleyball’s spring match against Pitt at Rec Hall on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions lost to the Panthers 2-3.
Noah Aberegg
Mendelson used her tall frame to her advantage during her basketball days at Nebraska, where she averaged 2.2 rebounds per game. In her second game of the season against Kansas, Mendelson recorded a career-high nine boards.
On the volleyball court, Mendelson’s height has helped her rack up 242 kills, the fifth-most on the team.
Mendelson will allow Kieger to keep a tall center on the court at all times, as Penn State’s coach can swap Mendelson and Merkle at the five.
Fight till the end
During the 2024-25 season, Penn State lost several games in the final few minutes, including a four-point loss to Rutgers after being up 17 points earlier in the contest.
Like the Lady Lions, Mendelson has had her share of late game struggles, but she has often come out on the winning side of them.
After falling down 2-0 in the NCAA semifinals against her former school, Mendelson and the Nittany Lions completed a reverse sweep over the No. 2 seed before going on to win a national championship.
If Mendelson can bring her late-game skills to the Lady Lions, she can maybe help them add to the win column — Penn State fell short in nine single-digit games last season.
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