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Why Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley refused to let cancer win amid volleyball Final Four run

Penn State volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley holds up the Big Ten title trophy after the Nittany Lions defeated Nebraska 3-1 to claim at least a share of the title at Rec Hall on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in State College, Pa.
Penn State volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley holds up the Big Ten title trophy after the Nittany Lions defeated Nebraska 3-1 to claim at least a share of the title at Rec Hall on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in State College, Pa.

Penn State women's volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley has cancer, but she's refused to let it stop her all season long.

In September, Katie was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. However, despite the diagnosis, she's continued to coach. Katie used practices and games as fuel while she sat through chemotherapy behind the scenes, describing her approach as a combination of "strength, determination, and an unwavering sense of hope."

Her resilient spirit has helped her as the Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a 29-2 record en route to a Final Four run. Still, it begs the question: Why wouldn't Katie step away to take time for herself? She didn't want to. "My mindset has always been wanting to win and having the best team I can," she recently told ESPN. "I feel normal...I just want to keep going. I feel so loved, and I'm so lucky to have the staff I have."

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley refused to let cancer win amid volleyball Final Four run