Russ Rose Then (1999): “I think Amanda had a good freshman year and a very good spring season. I thought she competed well for us and demonstrated what we thought were her strengths — her knowledge of the game and ball handling skills. We’ll see how she does against the big block and more game-like settings. I thought Amanda played hard and should have a bright future.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Amanda was one of the nation’s top recruits. She was a great passer, a great defensive player, and she had a strong arm. Amanda was fearless as a competitor. She has gone on to be a very successful lawyer.”
1999 Season (Sophomore): Highlights and Awards: 1999 National Champion … Academic All-Big Ten … AVCA All-Central Regional
Season Recap: Started all 37 matches and played in 124 of 125 sets … averaged 2.27 kills/set, hitting .299 … recorded 15 service aces, tied for 4th on the team … averaged .61 blocks/set, good for 7th on the team … was an emotional leader for the Nittany Lions … led the team in digs (396), digs per game (3.19) and double doubles (eight) … tallied 14 kills while hitting .244 ( 14 kills – 4 errors -41 attacks) against Florida (8/27) … also had 16 digs with 3 blocks, including two solo blocks … had a superb defensive effort against Nebraska (8/28) with a team and career-high 23 digs … hit .290 with 12 kills, five assists and one block assist … finished Penn State Classic against Maryland (9/4) with a .385 attack percentage (5 kills, no errors, 13 attacks) while adding 10 digs, 3 assists and 2 block assists … also named MVP of the tourney …had 13 digs with 9 kills, 4 assists and 3 blocks in 1st win over No. 8 Texas (9/17) … recorded 3rd double-double of the season with 11 kills and 19 digs versus the Longhorns (9/18) … another double-double performance at Michigan State (9/24) that included 13 kills and 19 digs with 3 assists and blocks … recorded match-high 10 digs with 9 kills and hit .667 (9 kills) in win over Illinois (10/1 ) … posted a double-double at No. 24 Wisconsin (10/16) with 14 kills and 16 digs … tallied 8 kills with no errors in 20 attacks (.400) in three-game win over Minnesota (10/23), adding 6 digs and a pair of blocks … recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs at Ohio State (10/27), with 5 blocks … racked up 16 digs, 9 kills, 3 digs and a pair of assists for the Michigan match (11/12).
NCAA Tournament: In 1st-round action against Robert Morris ( 12/3), Rome was nearly perfect with a match-high 10 kills and no errors in 16 attempts to hit .625 … in 2nd round sweep of the 20th-ranked Bears ( 12/4), knocked down 8 kills while digging out 6 Baylor attacks … had 14 digs in match against UCLA in Central Regional Final while getting 7 kills of her own … her play earned her All Tournament honors … had 8 kills and 15 digs in National Semi-Finals against Pacific (12/16) … Had 8 digs and one block in the National Championship match vs. Stanford (12/18).
Before Penn State: Played five years at Chaska High School and started at every position during that span; led Hawks to three state titles (1993, 1994, and 1996), as well as a second place finish in 1995 and a third place finish in 1997; named to Volleyball Magazine’s 1998 “Fab 50” team; was team captain her senior year; was an All-American, All-State, and All-Conference — as well as earning Metro Player of the Year — in both her junior and senior years; was the 1996 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year; also earned All-Conference and All-Metro honors as both a sophomore and a freshman, and was honorable mention All-Conference as an eighth grader.
“Women’s volleyball tries to avert 2000 start,” The Daily Collegian, Aug. 21, 2001
“Volleyball defeats Stanford for national title,” The Daily Collegian, Jan. 10, 2000
“Winning in the cards for Rome,” The Daily Collegian, Sept. 15, 1999
“All roads lead to Rome,” The Daily Collegian, Sept. 22, 1998
