Russ Rose Then (1993): “I like the way Jodi plays. She can play in the middle or outside. She competes hard and has good ball-handling skills. Jodi is an awfully good volleyball player. She should have been a Fab 50 selection. She’ll be a very good collegiate player. She has good size and strength. Jodi is physical and will be able to compete successfully in the Big Ten. I expect her to contribute as a freshman.”
1993 Season (Freshman) Season Recap: Saw action in 12 of 36 matches and 23 of 122 sets, starting several times for injured middle blocker Jenny Myszewski … recorded 25 kills (.322 hitting %) … hit .357 against Big Ten opponents … her best match was against Purdue (11/6), with 5 kills and 5 digs … recorded 3 blocks two times.
Before Penn State: Niswender distinguished herself academically and athletically at Fort Collins HS in Fort Collins, Colorado … earned All-State and All-Conference honors 3 times in volleyball, as a starting middle blocker/outside hitter, and 3 times in basketball, as a post player … was a team captain in both sports … a highlight of her senior year was participating in the annual North-South all-star match … selected to compete in the 1993 All-State Games … her volleyball teams placed 2nd in the state her junior and senior seasons … was honored annually for her excellence in the classroom.