Russ Rose Then (2009): “Katie is going to get looks at both the left and right positions. She has good size. We’re still trying to develop a consistent level of offensive play out of her at the net. She’s a wonderful kid who’s always smiling.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Katie was a player who could have been our third outside hitter, our third middle, our second right side. She could do everything, probably outside of setting. She was well-skilled, and just had this incredible fun energy about her all the time that was really valuable for the team’s development, because it is always good to have some comic relief. Katie was always in the middle of having fun, but don’t get me wrong, she worked hard. She was involved in volleyball for a while after graduating from Penn State and then worked for Flo Volleyball. I was, and am, a big fan of Katie. She didn’t play a lot, but she cared a lot. To me, that says a lot.”
2009 Season (Sophomore): 2009 National Champion … Academic All-Big Ten … played in 17 matches and 33 sets … made her 2009 debut against Alabama, tallying three kills (8/29) … posted two block assists vs. Buffalo (9/4) … tallied four kills and two block assists vs. Robert Morris (9/5) … tied her career high with eight kills vs. Loyola (Md.) (9/11) … posted six kills against Charleston (9/12) … had six kills vs. Saint Francis (9/19) … totaled five kills against Indiana (10/23) … led the team with five total blocks against Northwestern (11/14) … had two kills in three attempts versus Michigan State (11/27).
Before Penn State: Four-year volleyball letterwinner at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C. … two-year captain for the Crusaders … helped the squad to four consecutive (2004-07) conference championships and three straight (2005-07) NCHSAA 2A State Championships … ended with a scholastic record of 119-13 and as the school record holder in career kills (1,500), career aces (221) and single-season kills (478) … her No. 4 jersey has been retired … hit for a career percentage of .419 (1,500-325-2802) with an average of 3.69 kills per game, also adding in 262 career blocks and 623 career digs … named the 2007-08 Cardinal Gibbons Co-Female Athlete of the Year … 2007-08 AVCA High School Senior All-American, Volleyball Magazine First Team All-American and PrepVolleyball.com All-American … 2008 Volleyball Magazine ‘Fab 50’ selection … 2006 and 2007 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year … two-time NCHSAA 2A Championship Most Outstanding Player … 2006 Mid-State Conference Player of the Year … two-time Raleigh News & Observer Volleyball Player of the Year … a finalist for PrepVolleyball.com Junior and Senior National Player of the Year honors … 2007 Great Eight Tournament Most Valuable Player … a member of Triangle Volleyball Club out of Raleigh, N.C. … team was the 2006 Big South Qualifier Champions … a member of the 2007 Junior Olympic 18 National Division All-Tournament Team … 2004-08 USAV Carolina Region Champions … Volleyball Magazine Scholar Athlete of the Month (July 2007) … member of the National Honor Society.