Meet Penn State The Top-Seeded Nittany Lions Are 34-1 This Year. In Their Words, The Starters Talk What It’s Like Make The Finals.

Bonnie Bremner 5‘9”, soph., Lisle Ill.

“I want to be a mom that’s my biggest goal. I want to be around family, I love kids, I want to have a lot of them. I went to Penn State with my high school sweetheart four years ago and I hope he has some plans.

“My boyfriend’s very supportive of this but I’m his girlfriend and not a volleyball player. That’s really kind of nice to have a friend who doesn’t care whether we win or lose, and who doesn’t try to coach me.

“Volleyball is a competitive outlet, but at times it’s been my whole world. I used it as an outlet with problems, I’d go to the gym and work out, it was always a positive place for me. In high school when other kids were getting into drinking I had a place to go.

“I’ve played for 10 years and this is what I’ve played for. I’ve pictured this moment since I was little.

“My dad and step-mom are here but I haven’t gotten to see them yet. I have three weeks at Christmas with them. Right now, I want to win.”

Christy Cochran 5‘10, Jr., Bethlehem, Pa

“We want to win this for our coach, i think everyone knows that right now. He’s been coaching for 19 years, he built this program up from where they wore basketball jerseys to practices, he was national coach of the year, we want him to have this.

“In high school I played a lot of sports but I wasn’t a volleyball player. I came to Penn. State and Coach Rose made me into a player. That’s why volleyball is so exciting to me. Each day I’d go in the gym, each morning since I came to Penn State, and I learn a new thing every day.

“I want to tell all girls to play volleyball because if you want to put the time in, you can do it. The coach Mike Schall must have served more balls than there are people in the world since I’ve gotten to Penn State. When I first came, I’d bang balls into the wall, into the floor. Now I love to pass, love to return serves. You put your mind to something you can do it. I owe it all to this coaching staff.

“I’m a communications major with a kinesiology minor but everyone says I’m going to be an American Gladiator. That’s what I’m going to be someday, I’m very into lifting weights, I love working out, I love competitive sports. It’d be great.

“I’ve gained 20 pounds of muscle since I got to college. I was 145 and I’m 168 now. My parents laugh but I love trying to get stronger. Even my coaches can’t believe it but I’ve increased my vertical. I love to get the edge somehow, I’m not a big player, I’m only 5‘9- 5‘10, but I love competing with the big girls.

“I wish two people were here: my brother and also I’ve dating the same guy for four years. He’s the backup quarterback at Florida State, we were high school sweethearts and he’s never really seen me play.”

Lauren Cacciamani 6‘2”, soph., Paramus, N.J.

“I’ll be praising God for the season and the team he’s brought together. I asked Jesus Christ into my life when I was a senior in high school and now I have hope, I have purpose, I have inexpressible joy.

“I’ll be thinking about my mom, too. She’s in New Jersey and a real inspiration. She raised us alone since I was two. She did the single parent thing working lots of jobs, supporting us through athletics, providing the funds for it. It’s expensive to do that, she worked for that.

“I wanted to call my boyfriend, too. He’s at Rutgers, fifth year, a graphic designer.

“I have exercise-induced asthma so basically if I start working pretty hard it will get me. If there’s a really long volley I’ll be a bit more winded than the average player. But it’s really just an annoyance.

“A large group of us pray before a game, we stand in a circle and hold hands. We thank the Lord for the evening and ask him to keep us injury free and to play for fun and to play for him. To play with our hearts.”

Lindsay Anderson 6‘0, senior, Crystal Lake, Ill.

“My parents are our No. 1 fans, they’ve followed us to every match on the road. Sometimes after matches I don’t even get to see them for more than 10 minutes. It’s enough to say ‘I love you and thanks.’ They live in Chicago, my mom works at a hospital and my Dad works for All-State.

“I have battles with injuries. I broke my foot two years ago and last year had an abdominal injury. I feel like this year has been so rewarding and so much fun because I’ve finally overcome the injury bug.

“Volleyball is my life. Something I’ve done almost 10 years, it’s my passion, my hobby. I’d like to go to grad school after I graduate and become a physicians’ assistant. This is it, this what it’s all about, all the praying, and the practice.”

Carrie Schonveld 6‘0, soph., Portage, MI.

“I know the fans at home are watching over us on tv. We have great fans. They’re really knowledgable about the game and when we play at home it’s awesome. They’re loud and they care so much about us.

“I called home to tell my parents but they knew already. Some of our boosters call them after every game. The boosters even come say good bye to us at the airport. They treat us well. But I never get to tell my parents when we win.

“In the fifth grade, I went out for the team and the coach was like, ‘she’s not really good enough to be on the team,’ but you could practice with us if you want.” So I went to all the practices. My first time in a game I was so clueless. And here I am now.

“I haven’t experienced life without volleyball, without practicing every day from 3 to 6 p.m. Everyday of my life I practice from 3 to 6 it seems like. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love it.

The day I don’t love it, is the day I quit.”

Terri Zemaitis 6‘2”, senior, Downers Grove, Ill.

“We trained to the point we couldn’t walk in the spring and it’s paid off. My parents are retired high school teachers from Chicago. I’m the baby of four, three older sisters. They all played in college.

“This has been great for them: watching their baby sister grow up and revenge when they would never used to let me play with them.

“My mom and dad are here and I wish my sisters were. At the holidays, we get together at our grandparents house in eat lots of turkey and stuffing, take a nap then we all play poker. My dad says I have a good poker face. We play for money, nickels, dimes and quarters, and my dad always spots me and lets me keep whatever I win.

“Volleyball has been a major part of my life I look forward to it every single day. This is my senior year, I’m hoping to go into sports broadcasting but I really want to keep playing volleyball as long as I can.

“My sisters say, ‘Whatever happens there we’ll still love you.’ But my one sister is very competitive. She said go out there and kick some aas.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 7 color photos