Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Michelle Nartey/Northwestern Athletics
Volleyball Adds Outside Hitter Transfer Cate Schnell to Roster
2/10/2026 10:29:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern volleyball has added undergraduate transfer Cate Schnell to its 2026 roster, Head Coach Tim Nollan announced on Wednesday. Schnell, a redshirt junior, will join the Wildcats after three seasons at Tennessee.
"I am so excited to add Cate to our volleyball family," Nollan said. "She comes to Evanston bringing SEC experience and a hunger to develop and help push this program to new heights. She has great ball control and length and will be a great addition for the 'Cats! It was evident when we spoke how she appreciated Northwestern not just for our B1G Volleyball but also for the power of the degree and the doors it will open for her for the rest of her life. It is a great day for the 'Cats!"
Schnell played in 24 matches over the last two years after redshirting her first year in Knoxville in 2023. This past fall, she set career highs in digs (16) and aces (14) and recorded three games with multiple aces. The outside hitter appeared in 17 games as a redshirt sophomore, with her standout performance coming against Wofford when she set career-highs in aces (six) and digs (five) in four-set win.
In her redshirt first-year campaign in 2024, she appeared in seven matches and logged seven digs, four aces and two assists.
A native of San Diego, Calif., she helped lead the state-champion Cathedral Catholic Dons to a No. 1 national ranking and a 42-0 record during her senior season in 2022. She also played for the sand volleyball team at Cathedral Catholic.
At the club level, she helped guide Coast Volleyball to a third-place finish at AAUs in the 18-Open section and third-place finish in the nation at junior nationals.
"I am so excited to add Cate to our volleyball family," Nollan said. "She comes to Evanston bringing SEC experience and a hunger to develop and help push this program to new heights. She has great ball control and length and will be a great addition for the 'Cats! It was evident when we spoke how she appreciated Northwestern not just for our B1G Volleyball but also for the power of the degree and the doors it will open for her for the rest of her life. It is a great day for the 'Cats!"
Schnell played in 24 matches over the last two years after redshirting her first year in Knoxville in 2023. This past fall, she set career highs in digs (16) and aces (14) and recorded three games with multiple aces. The outside hitter appeared in 17 games as a redshirt sophomore, with her standout performance coming against Wofford when she set career-highs in aces (six) and digs (five) in four-set win.
In her redshirt first-year campaign in 2024, she appeared in seven matches and logged seven digs, four aces and two assists.
A native of San Diego, Calif., she helped lead the state-champion Cathedral Catholic Dons to a No. 1 national ranking and a 42-0 record during her senior season in 2022. She also played for the sand volleyball team at Cathedral Catholic.
At the club level, she helped guide Coast Volleyball to a third-place finish at AAUs in the 18-Open section and third-place finish in the nation at junior nationals.
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