Edgewood native Thelen plays key role for top-ranked Penn State volleyball program

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Having already won an NCAA Division I-record seven national championships in volleyball, top-ranked Penn State is positioning itself to add yet another trophy to that impressive collection later this month.

One of the key performers for Penn State is senior Heidi Thelen, a 2014 graduate of Notre Dame Academy and a starting right-side hitter for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State’s Heidi Thelen (right) with an attack attempt. (Mark Selders)

Thelen earned All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades this season as Penn State has steamrolled to a 31-1 record. The Edgewood native is attacking at a .363 clip with 181 kills, including a career-best 14 spikes on Oct. 20 during a win against then-No. 17 Purdue. In that Big Ten road victory at West Lafayette, Ind., Thelen hit .542 for the match and added five blocks.

The 6-foot-2 Thelen has also collected 93 block assists and eight block solos, making her an integral part of Penn State’s ascent to No. 1 in the national poll.

“Playing for Penn State was my dream since seventh grade, I always wanted to come here,” Thelen said. “When I got the chance, I never looked back. Being on a team with such tradition and excellence not only makes me a better player, but a better person.”

On Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Thelen collected seven kills and hit .333 as Penn State defeated Pitt, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, at University Park, Pa. She also added three blocks and two digs for the Nittany Lions, who will play host to Missouri on Friday in the regional semifinals.

“I remember last year she was being introduced to the right side, which made it more uncomfortable, but I think this year she has really gotten into the niche and accepted the role,” Penn State All-American Haleigh Washington said of Thelen’s switch from middle blocker to right-side hitter as a junior. “You can see this more, especially when she is swinging out of system. Last year she would be a little more nervous and reserved, but this year she looks cleaner [attacking the ball].”

Heidi Thelen blocks against Howard in the NCAA Tournament first round.

A four-year letter winner at Notre Dame, Thelen earned first-team Class AAA all-state accolades in 2013, while also picking up all-state honors from the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also named the 9th Region Player of the Year in both 2011 and ’13.

In addition, Thelen picked up Under Armour honorable mention All-American accolades as a senior.

Now, she’s hoping to close out her college career with a national championship. Penn State captured its most recent national title in 2014, and the Nittany Lions won four consecutive championships from 2007-10.

“Being on the No. 1 team is something very special, but it only really matters at the end of the season,” Thelen said. “We are going to continue to work hard and do what we know how to do. It truly is a remarkable place to be a part of, and I’m grateful for the four years that I have spent here.”

Thelen’s family is filled with strong sports backgrounds. Her older brother, Jake, played college basketball at Bellarmine and scored 1,412 points in three seasons with the Knights. He also earned NCAA Division II All-America accolades as a senior after averaging 18.6 points and 10. 7 rebounds a game to become the first Knight in 27 years to average a double-double. He also set the Bellarmine record for best single-season shooting percentage by making 74 percent of his shots as a junior.

In addition, Thelen has a younger brother, Nick, who is currently a member of the Covington Catholic High School boys’ basketball team.

NCAA Regional
Friday, Dec. 8 (at University Park, Pa.)
Penn State (31-1) vs. Missouri (22-11), 2 p.m.
Michigan State (23-8) vs. Illinois (23-10), 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9
Championship, 8 p.m.

Complete NCAA Tournament bracket