Penn State, Louisville to vie for NCAA women's volleyball title - ESPN

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Penn State's women's volleyball team won a historic national semifinal match Thursday to set up even more history Sunday: For the first time since the NCAA tournament began for the sport in 1981, a woman will win the title as head coach.

That's guaranteed, as both teams in Sunday's final (ABC, 3 p.m. ET) are coached by women. Penn State is led by Katie Schumacher-Cawley, while its opponent in the championship round, Louisville, is led by Dani Busboom Kelly. Both women won NCAA titles as players — Schumacher-Cawley with Penn State in 1999 and Busboom Kelly with Nebraska in 2006.

«I think we've heard that quite a bit: The first time a woman this or that,» Schumacher-Cawley said. «But I'm excited for this team. I think Dani's an exceptional coach, and I'm excited we both get to compete at this level.»

It has been an emotional year for the Nittany Lions, with Schumacher-Cawley coaching despite being diagnosed with breast cancer in September. The Nittany Lions say they have been inspired by her.

Penn State will go for the program's eighth national title — seven came under former coach Russ Rose, who is retired — and Louisville will go for its first. A Cardinals victory would also mark the ACC's first title.

Nebraska coach John Cook, despite his disappointment in not making the final, called it a «silver lining» that either Busboom Kelly or Schumacher-Cawley will win a title as head coach. Cook coached Busboom Kelly as a player, and she was his assistant at Nebraska before taking the Louisville job in in 2017. She has made the NCAA tournament every season with the Cardinals, and this will be her second NCAA final.

«There's two great stories for you guys to write about,» Cook said. «Women are tough, and