Russ Rose Then (2004): “Cassy emerged in the spring as one of the top offensive players that we have had in recent history. She was hitting the ball well and was playing with confidence and working hard. She has been slowed down by some injuries, and hopefully she will be at full strength by the time the season comes around and will be able to follow up her Freshman of the Year awards both in the conference and the region. Cassy is a rising star in the college game and I hope she has the type of season she deserves.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Cassy was an incredible team player and always an exceptional communicator. She was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year, which was a major award, but she was hampered by injuries in later years. We had a lot of success when she was healthy and playing well. She was really good off of one foot, and back in 2003, 2004, and 2005 seasons probably was one of the first college players that was attacking off of one foot out of the back row. She was a team leader and incredibly loyal to the program. I’m incredibly fond of her and proud of the success she’s had as an adult.”
2004 Season (Sophomore) Highlights and Awards: Preseason All-Big Ten.
Season Recap: Played in all 32 matches and 108 of 109 sets … began the season recovering from stress fractures in her lower legs … averaged 2.83 kills/set, 0.75 digs/set, and 1.20 blocks/set … recorded at least 2 kills in all 32 matches and had 5 or more kills on 29 occasions … posted 17 matches with 10 or more kills, including 6 of the last 8 contests … recorded a season-high 16 kills on .500 hitting versus Purdue (10/30) … hit .565 with 14 kills against Illinois (11/20) … led the team with 12 kills in the Big Ten title-clinching match at Michigan (11/27) … ranked 1st on the team with 130 total blocks … posted a season-high 10 blocks at Minnesota (11/5) amd again versus UCLA (12/10) in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal … recorded at least one block in all 32 matches and tallied 29 multiple-block contests … notched five or more blocks in a match 12 times … also had 81 digs, including a career-high seven versus American (12/3) … had at least one dig in 28 matches and multiple digs in 20 contests … also posted 17 assists and six service aces.
NCAA Tournament: Tied her season-high with 10 blocks against UCLA (12/10) in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal.
Before Penn State: Four-year volleyball letterwinner at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado; team captain in 2001 and 2002 for the Buffaloes; led Smoky Hill to state championships in 2001 and 2002 and the state semifinals in 2000; was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2002 Colorado state tournament; named to the state all-tournament team in 2001 and 2002 and named All-Colorado by the Denver Post in 2002; member of the 18-Black Front Range Volleyball Club team that won the 2002 18-Open Junior National Championship; also named all-region in 2001 and 2002; member of the senior honor roll; awarded the 2003 “Commitment to Excellence Award” by the director and coaches of the Front Range Volleyball club; tabbed as a “Fab 50” selection by Volleyball Magazine; named one of the Hot 100 recruits in the class of 2003.
“Women’s volleyball wins five postseason honors,” The Daily Collegian, Dec. 2, 2003