PITTSBURGH — Pitt women’s volleyball coach Dan Fisher signed 2024 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-American Izzy Starck to the 2026 roster, it was announced Tuesday.

Starck, who helped Penn State win the national championship in 2024, will join the Panthers in January and adds a dynamic presence to a setter group that also includes Haiti Tautua’a.

Starck enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign in 2024 at Penn State, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after helping lead the Nittany Lions to a conference championship. She totaled 1,483 assists, 342 digs, 112 kills and 99 blocks, guiding Penn State to a 35-2 overall record and the program’s eighth national championship.

Starck collected six Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards and five Big Ten Setter of the Week honors during the season. She appeared in the first four matches of the 2025 season before taking a redshirt.

The No. 1 overall recruit out of high school, Starck played her club volleyball with Colorado Juniors and Vegas Aces.

One of Pitt’s top incoming freshmen, setter Isabella Hoppe of Pine-Richland High School, flipped her commitment from Pitt to Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, middle blocker Ryla Jones has transfered from Pitt to Penn State. Jones was a sophomore this past season.

The Nittany Lions also earned a commitment from outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein, who previously played at Texas and Nebraska. Lauenstein has one year of eligibility remaining.

PSU wrestling honors

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State wrestling’s Marcus Blaze and Shayne Van Ness swept Big Ten wrestling honors for the week ending Dec. 21.

Blaze was named B1G Freshman of the Week and Van Ness was honored as B1G Wrestler of the Week.