UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball and Head Coach Clarisa Crowell welcomed a trio of incoming transfers to the program's 2024 roster on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue & White welcome outfielder Haylie Brunson from Pittsburgh, catcher Gaby Garcia from Stephen F. Austin and right-handed pitcher Mady Volpe from Coastal Carolina.
"It is with great pleasure that I announce the addition of Gaby, Mady, and Haylie to our team, and we are very excited about this talented group of student-athletes," Crowell said. "Their experience and success at the Division I level will be a great benefit to our team, and I know they will have a significant impact on our program. All three are very good players, but most importantly, they are individuals of high character who will be great teammates. I know that they will strive for excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. Please help me to welcome Gaby, Mady and Haylie to our Penn State Family."
HAYLIE BRUNSON | JR | OF | MOUNT PLEASANT, PA. | MOUNT PLEASANT / PITTSBURGH
A native of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Brunson arrives in Happy Valley following a two-year stint with the in-state rival Pittsburgh Panthers. Brunson is fresh off a 2023 campaign that saw her emerge as the team's primary right fielder, appearing in 42 contests with 36 starts. Her sophomore season saw her clock a .294 average at the plate and log an OPS of .871, the fourth-highest mark on the team among routine starters. Brunson cranked five home runs and 13 doubles over the course of her Panther career, establishing herself as one of the roster's premier hitters while simultaneously cultivating a career .984 fielding percentage at multiple defensive positions.
"I knew that Penn State was a place I wanted to call home for the next two years the moment I stepped on campus," Brunson stated. "There is something to be said about the overall culture that Penn State brings to the table. I loved the coaches, facilities and the idea of representing Pennsylvania. Many of my family members attended Penn State, and I will be the third generation of my family to attend college in University Park. I am eager to get started and hopefully leave a legacy here at PSU, and I look forward to bringing my strong love for the game to this incredible group."
GABY GARCIA | SR | C | SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS | CARROLL / STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Garcia is a native of Southlake, Texas, and joins the Penn State softball program following three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. An all-around star for the Ladyjacks, Garcia's most recent season in 2023 proved to be her most productive, hitting for a .315 average while ranking second in the Western Athletic Conference and 14th nationally with a whopping 18 home runs on the year. Garcia published a team-leading OPS of 1.111 last season, coupling her superb eye at the plate with an elite ability to hit with power. Garcia has cultivated a career .336 batting average with 37 home runs and 34 doubles while supplementing her offensive production with a .992 fielding percentage defensively.
"Right as I stepped on campus, I immediately felt the magic of Happy Valley," Garcia said. "The tradition and culture of this university is so strong, that no matter where you go in the world, you'll always hear a 'We Are. Penn State' The coaches and staff in the softball program are amazing individuals that want you to succeed, both as a player and as a person. I am so thankful to be a part of such an awesome program. I hope to be a huge piece in the future success that this team will achieve this year. Big things are coming."
MADY VOLPE | JR | RHP | LANSDALE, PA. | NORTH PENN / COASTAL CAROLINA
Volpe returns home to her native Keystone State after spending the past two seasons as a pitcher with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Her sophomore season in 2023 was her most effective, as the Lansdale, Pennsylvania, native mustered a 2.66 ERA on the year with an impressive 9-1 individual record. Volpe appeared in 27 contests last season, making 15 starts with a pair of complete games and a shutout. Tossing 94.2 innings last year, Volpe finished the season with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.36, logging 92 Ks against just 39 walks. Her 6.8 strikeouts per seven innings ranked 11th in an ultra-competitive Sun Belt Conference.
"Pennsylvania is my home state, and Penn State University has always had a rich history of both athletic and academic excellence," Volpe added. "I have already had an outstanding experience with the academic and athletic support staffs at Penn State, and I have a strong bond already with my coaches and teammates. I am looking forward to earning my degree from this incredible school and concluding my softball career in Pennsylvania."
Brunson, Garcia and Volpe join a talented core of returning student-athletes that mustered a 31-16 overall record a season ago coupled with an 11-11 mark in the Big Ten Conference. Led by All-B1G First Team selection Emily Maddock, Penn State compiled 30-or-more wins and reached the .500 mark in Big Ten play in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2005 and 2006 teams accomplished that feat. In addition to Maddock, the Blue & White return key starters in Kaitlyn Morrison, Liana Jones, Maddie Gordon and Melody Coombs from last year's squad.
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