As Quinn Menger entered through the gates of Penn State in 2021, her eyes widened in wonder. As a young girl who had dreamt of making it big in the volleyball landscape, she was one step closer to her vision. It’s as if she was transported back to her toddler self—the one who had learnt how to walk with a volleyball cart. “It’s been my dream school ever since I was a little girl. It was just meant to be and it was home.” But now the road was different. She was no longer under the protection of her parents—both volleyball coaches. It was a road she mostly walked alone, realizing some very heartbreaking truths along the way…

Three years have passed by since that day. The celebrity status Menger enjoyed back at St. Catherine’s School, Richmond, has spectacularly translated into a glorious NCAA career. At St. Catherine’s, Menger had played for a total of five years, including three as team captain—she led her team to four LIS titles, and four top-four finishes in the state four times. And not to mention, the three All-State honors, including being a two-time Metro Player of the Year and a two-time LIS Player of the Year.

But for her, playing has never been about a chore, or a race for just acknowledgment. It’s love. “I was kind of born into it. It’s something I love to do. I played softball, I played soccer, I did dance. But growing up nothing really compared, my heart was where the court was,” the youngster had said in an interview with the Richmond-Times Dispatch back in 2019. So, every time her relationship with the court gets troublesome, Menger makes it a point to visit where it all began.

“I always try and go back and teach a middle school clinic every now and then to rekindle my love for the game. … Watching little kids have fun is where it all comes back to. Because they’re going to be you one day and that’s a great feeling to have. … It just warms your heart.” And perhaps, that’s exactly what has helped her continue the same trend at Penn State, too…

On December 21, Menger helped etched history with the Nittany Lions’ 3-1 ((25-23, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17) win over Louisville in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship match. It was the team’s eighth National Title in program history, and the first-ever Division I title in the sport won by a team with a woman head coach (Katie-Schumacher-Cawley). Menger contributed with four digs. But that’s not all…

In the last two years, she’s also earned two Academic All-Big Ten honors at her “dream school”. Yet, a heartbreaking reality presents itself: The sacrifices that often gets hidden behind shiny medals and accolades.

In a conversation with the Richmond-Times Dispatch six days after her win, Menger dived into all things personal and professional. On being asked what it felt like bringing the title home, she said, “Oh man! I was standing on the bench and, I mean, first of all, what a game! Never in my life would I have thought I would have been doing that. Or let alone playing middle…We were standing there and we scored 24 points and I just started bawling my eyes out. I was like, ‘We freaking did it!’ Like, ‘Holy cr-p!'”

“I remember watching the rally in real time. I couldn’t even see, because there were so many tears in my eyes…I was so grateful to be part of it and so many emotions because [it’s] my last time ever doing that. But also so much pride and joy…I’m so proud to be a Penn Stater and I love Penn State and Penn State volleyball…I’m grateful that the whole world got to see how great the program is.”

Top Comment by ThatOneGuy

Lols athletes get all the perks in life and ime DGAF about anyone but themselves. I knew tons of jocks...more

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The interviewer then pointed out how much Menger might have had to struggle to reach where she is. The question seemed to hit close to home, as the star revealed the most heartbreaking thing about her journey:

“Every other team that played in the tournament was equally deserving. Every student-athlete gets up early, does a lot of homework…We don’t have a big social life. And I think that’s something people can keep in mind when they want to be negative toward student athletes. We’re giving up [so much]. I mean, I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving in four years. You know, what I mean? So it’s just stuff like that. It’s like every team in the tournament was deserving of it, and the fact that we got to do it made me cry.”

Notably, Quinn’s parents, Debra and Clark, were in the stands proudly watching as their daughter helped steal the victory. But also equally proud were the 300,000 people back in her hometown of Richmond—the one place Quinn always thought was boring with “nothing to do here’.

“After the match, I had 462 text messages. 90% of them were Richmond people,” Menger confessed.

Having said that, Penn State got off to a strong start against Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center taking an early. Things became interesting when Louiseville clawed their back with an incredible hard-fought 34-32 point second set.

However, Penn State didn’t let the Cardinals build on that momentum, winning sets three and four to claim the title. “The fact that we got to do it made me cry… I’m so grateful, and I’m so happy that we get to freaking hang a banner and Rec Hall,” added the setter. But, through her statement, the college volleyball star has raised an important issue that needs to be addressed, and others have joined her too…

Volleyball athletes have begun firing back

The Nittany Lions star is the latest among a long line of players firing back at very negative fans. Those who have spoken most actively about the extreme negativity sometimes face online criticism. A few such players are Nebraska Husker’s Harper Murray and Lindsay Krause. As part of a team with a fan base large enough to set the women’s sports attendance world record, Murray and her teammates have seen their fair share of negativity.

The fact that many are simply waiting in the wings to hurl distasteful comments became apparent when the Huskers lost to Penn State in the BIG10 title match. Some didn’t care that Nebraska was on a 25-game win streak before that loss. “I truly don’t understand how some of you guys can wake up in the morning, open your phone, type something so nasty and rude about somebody, and post it and think that it’s a good idea,” Murray said in a TikTok video.

Who can be more aware of how severely negative fan comments can affect a player than Harper Murray? Last year, the outside hitter had to deal with endless backlash because of a single statement. After losing the final against the Texas Longhorns, the frustrated freshman explained that Nebraska would win the next three national championships.

However, her statement triggered a wave of backlash that put Harper on a slippery slope. During the off-season, Murray’s mental state broke down, culminating in a DUI arrest in April 2024. So after spending an entire season recovering from her ordeal, Murray didn’t stay silent. Her video came in response to fellow teammate Lindsay Krause, who also snapped back at the trolls.

“In case for some reason, you may have forget this holiday season: athletes are HUMAN and FANS don’t post hate comments.” Krause wrote in her Instagram story for those who called the team ‘chokers.’ The Nebraska senior’s argument was also similar to that of Menger’s.

“We are people that have given our entire lives to do what we are doing, and unless you’re down here next to us, I promise you do NOT understand and it is NOT funny,” added Krause. With her recent interview, the Penn State volleyball star hoped to put that struggle into perspective. However, it’s difficult to predict if their efforts will ultimately lead to change.