Saving the best for last
ERIE — With two years of volleyball eligibility remaining at Penn State Behrend, Butler graduate Cody Schnur could continue to play.
Instead, he’s going to work.
The Lions’ senior middle hitter graduates this spring and has accepted a position with a machinery company in Monroeville.
“Yeah, this is it for me,” Schnur said.
And he’s making it count.
Behrend recently won the second Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) championship in program history and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time. The Lions (22-7) play at once-beaten and top-seeded Springfield (Mass.) at 4 p.m. Friday in the first round.
Schnur is the team captain this season. He made first team All-AMCC for the first time after making second team last year. He produced a season-best 16 kills in Behrend’s victory in the conference championship game.
“Cody has come up big for us all season,” Behrend coach Phil Pisano said. “He’s particularly improved his blocking this year. That’s all repetition (in practice) and muscle memory. You have to make quick decisions on those plays and he’s excelling at it.”
Schnur’s last two seasons were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 season was halted before the conference tournament arrived. The 2021 season was abbreviated, Behrend losing in the AMCC title match.
“We’ve been working toward this,” Pisano said of the conference title. “There’s been obstacles along the way. Cody has been a big part of the process.”
Schnur’s 233 kills this season are second on the team. His 291.5 points scored are second as well. He’s secured 42 digs and his hitting percentage of .388 ranks second in the AMCC and 20th in all of Division III.
Schnur said this year’s milestone could have arrived two years ago.
“We had a bunch of seniors on that team,” he said. “We were experienced and were having a great year. When the season was stopped, I felt bad for those guys. I’ve been thinking of them this year because I learned a lot from them.”
Schnur’s roommate, graduate student JP Goodsel, is also a Behrend team captain and has been named AMCC Player of the Year this season.
“They play really well together,” Pisano said. “I can stagger them in our rotation in the front row and they play off each other effectively. They share leadership duties and have helped each other produce on the court.”
“We were pulling for JP to get Player of the Year because he truly deserves it,” Schnur said. “He works harder than any player on the team. He’s definitely helped my game.”
Goodsel was battling an injury last season and was only available to play in the back row during the 2021 AMCC tournament.
Schnur said one off his own biggest developments as a player this season is his ability to get set for a kill.
“The last two years, I was a good pass and hit player,” he said. “I’d be set for my shot and the ball would be passed to me in that certain spot. I’ve been moving around a lot more this year and am ready to make a hit from different spots and in any situation.
“We’ve been studying film on Springfield and have been preparing different things for them. We’re working on moves and rotations we haven’t used all year. I’m excited about our chances this weekend.”
Whenever Behrend’s tournament run is over, Schnur is hoping his volleyball career won’t be. He plans to play in adult leagues and hopes to get into coaching.
“My high school coach (Lew Liparulo) has talked to me about coaching and one of our referees up here is a North Hills volleyball coach. He’s talked to me as well,” Schnur said. “If the time element works with my job, I’d love to get into it someday.”
“Cody would make a great coach,” Pisano said. “He knows the game and he’s well-respected on our team. He’s very well-liked. He would do well.”
