From Gator Nation To Happy Valley: Enter Kennedy Martin
Martin Didn't Skip A Beat And Stepped Up Immediately For Penn State
Following a national championship season, Penn State had to find a replacement for the graduating outside hitter Jess Mruzik, who led the Nittany Lions in kills.
Enter Kennedy Martin.
The Florida transfer right-side hitter is no stranger to the spotlight, garnering All-America honors in 2023 as part of the second team and in 2024 as part of the first team.
2024 – her sophomore season – was Martin’s best yet in her two campaigns at Florida, earning the title of AVCA Southeast Region Player of the Year.
Martin lived up to the preseason hype and is on pace to be the fifth player in Penn State history to win AVCA Division I Player of the Year honors.
Martin is well on her way to doing so, ranking second in Division I in kills per set (5.48), points per set (6.24) and kills in a three-set match (26), which was at Minnesota on November 14.
Looking ahead to the end of the season, to earn All-American honors for the third time in Martin’s career is a very real possibility, and it would be an honor for her to do so.
“Oh my gosh,” Martin said. “I mean, being an All-American in general is something I've dreamed of since I found out it was a thing.”