Dzuranin joins the Nittany Lions for the 2022 season!
Hazleton, Pa. - Rebecca Dzuranin is poised to take the court next year for the Hazleton Nittany Lion Volleyball squad. Following one season with the Rosemont Ravens, Dzuranin will return to her roots in the Hazleton area as a resident of McAdoo, PA, just 8 miles from the Penn State Hazleton campus. At Rosemont, Dzuranin registered a team-high 143 kills during her freshman season in the fall of 2021.
Rebecca graduated from Marian Catholic High School in the spring of 2021 where she was a three-year starter for the Fillies and captained the squad during her senior year, earning numerous individual and team accolades along the way. Dzuranin was part of two Class A State Runner-Up teams at Marian Catholic in 2017 and 2020 and in both seasons, the Fillies powered their way to District XI championships along with a Schuylkill League title in 2017. During her senior season, Dzuranin totaled 93 kills, 32 blocks, 77 digs and 47 aces, landing her on the 2020 District XI and Schuylkill League All-Star Teams as well as the prestige of being named a PIAA All-State Volleyball Player. Off the volleyball court, Rebecca was also a member of the 2019 Division II Girls Track and Field Champions as well as the Cheerleading captain and manager for the Marian Catholic baseball team.
Rebecca is thrilled to be returning to her hometown area and to compete with the Hazleton Nittany Lions. "Spending my first year of college two hours from home, it was difficult to get the same level of support from my family and friends that I had in high school," said Rebecca. "When I decided to transfer to Penn State Hazleton, I was excited to be able to have that support back but also to be reunited with my high school coach, Dr. John Fallabel who is now the assistant at Penn State Hazleton. I have always dreamed of playing in a Penn State uniform, and now I finally get that opportunity!"
Dzuranin finished in the top 25 in her class in high school and made the 2021 All-Academic Team during her first season at Rosemont College. She'll look to continue to excel on the court and in the classroom as she continues her collegiate experience at Penn State Hazleton. Rebecca plans to major in criminal justice at Penn State and wants to pursue a career in crime scene investigation or athletics.