Russ Rose Then (2006): “Jess has demonstrated that she is the type of player who makes a great impact on all of the teams she has played on, whether it is her high school team in the state championship or her club team at nationals. She is a primary setter and a strong leader. The training that the setters, in particular, get as part of the Sports Performance club program is top-rate. We have certainly had great success with Sports Performance setters in the past. I like Jess’ disposition, the things she said about me from the first time I talked to her, and I look forward to the sort of contributions she can make as a setter. She’s not the type who is going to be a strong offensive player at the net, but she has played a great deal of volleyball and has a good feel for the game. SPRI has produced a large number of players who have made great contributions to college volleyball teams and I don’t see any reason why that streak will stop with Jess Yanz. She plays the game hard and I like the technique and skills she possesses. ”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “I think Jess Yanz was certainly one of the top recruits in the country at the setting position. She wasn’t with us for her whole career, as she left and went to Nebraska, and then finished up her eligibility at Dayton. Jess was very talented, and she was a very important part of the program. She was instrumental in helping Alisha Glass with her development as a setter because Jess was a pure setter, whereas before college, Alisha had been more of a hitter who could set. Jess played for Kelly Sheffield at Dayton and then went with him when he went to Wisconsin. She is their director of volleyball operations and has a couple of children. I have great respect for Jess as a player, and how she handled playing and working with Alicia Glass in her development.”
2006 Season (Freshman): Saw action in 17 matches (2 starts) and 29 sets in 2006, both as a 6-2 and a 5-1 setter, as Penn State went 32-3 and advanced to the regional final … Dished out 119 assists for an average of 4.10 assists per set . . . career high of 23 assists versus Michigan (10/20) . . . recorded first career double-double with 17 assists and a career-high 11 digs at LSU (8/26) . . . averaged 1.48 digs per set . . . recorded at least one dig in 10 contests . . . had at least one ace in seven matches . . . posted a personal best two aces versus Miami (Ohio) (9/16).
Before Penn State: Four-year letterwinner at Naperville Central (Illinois) High School; led the Redhawks to the 2005 Class AA State Championship with a 39-4 record; 2006 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year; named a “Fab 50” selection by Volleyball Magazine in 2006; two-time DuPage Valley Conference all-league selection in 2004 and 2005; four-time DuPage Valley Conference academic all-league selection; Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year for volleyball in 2005; two-time Naperville Sun all-area selection in 2004 and 2005; Chicago Tribune First Team All-State in 2005; two-time Daily Herald all-area selection in 2004 and 2005; 2005 School Sports magazine Girls Player of the Year; 2005 Champaign Gazette First Team All-State; finished high school career with a school-record 2, 705 assists, including a school-record 902 during her senior campaign; member of the Sports Performance Volleyball Club for five years (2001-2006); named “Best Setter” at the 2004 and 2006 National Junior Classic; three-time AAU All-American honoree; 2004 AAU Most Valuable Player; participated in an international tournament in Russia against teams from Moscow, Kazakhstan and Russia, earning a gold medal; led Sports Performance to a first place finish at the 2006 National Junior Classic; member of the 2005 Sports Performance team that won the Junior Olympic National Open Championship; member of the National Honor Society and the Spansish National Honor Society.
“Setter leaves for Nebraska,” The Daily Collegian, Jan. 31, 2008