“Meet the Newcomers: Penn State’s 2009 Recruiting Class” GoPSUsports, Sept. 7, 2009
Russ Rose Then (2009): “Marika is a very skilled and talented player who has great energy and enthusiasm for the game. She has passion with everythig she does. She is much further along as a setter than I thought. If we can implement her to give Alisha some opportunities to get some swings without having an adverse effect on the flow of the game, then I would envision her setting a little bit this year.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Marika was a player that we saw in camp. I was drawn to her by a number of factors. One was her physicality — she was incredibly strong. Another factor was she was always smiling, always trying to find ways to help the team and program. She has gone on to have great success and none of it is surprising. Anytime I needed anyone to do something, I would say, ‘Hey, listen, we have something. You know, we won this, and we need a player to meet somebody from the governor’s office.’ Marika, without any hesitation, would step up to fill whatever opening was needed to aid the program and be the face of the program. Marika was a very accomplished player who always competed hard. She didn’t have as many opportunities to play as she probably would have liked, but that didn’t alter how she approached coming to practice every day and being a loyal individual who was always upbeat and always positive in all interactions while she was in the program and after the program. She’s married now to a former PSU rugby athlete and has two children.”
2009 Season (Freshman): 2009 National Champion … saw action in 14 matches and 14 sets as a serving and defensive specialist … made her collegiate debut against Miami (Ohio) winning the match with an ace … had two digs vs. Alabama (8/29) … tallied two digs against Buffalo in her Rec Hall debut (9/4) … recorded an ace vs. Wisconsin (10/3) … registered an ace vs. Purdue (10/24) … had one ace each in matches vs. Binghamton and Penn (12/4-5).
Career Offensive Statistics
Before Penn State: Four-year starter and letterwinner at Chatham High School in Chatham, N.J. … finished with a scholastic record of 99-12 … Chatham Cougars were 2005 and 2006 Morris County Tournament Finalists, 2006 New Jersey State Finalists and Iron Hills Conference (Hills Division) Champions, 2007 New Jersey State Champions, Morris County Tournament Champions and Iron Hlls Conference (Hills Division) Champions and 2008 Morris County Tournament Semifinalists and New Jersey State Semifinalists (Group II) … earned Second-Team All-Area as a freshman … 3-time First Team All-Area … 3-time First Team All-County … Second Team All-State 2006 … 3-time First Team All-State Group II … 2-time First Team All-State … 2-time First Team All-Conference … 2006 PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 … 2-time PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American … 2007 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year runner-up and 2008 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist … 2-time New Jersey Star-Ledger Player of the Year (Morris County) … 2007 Daily Record Player of the Year … 2007 Morris County Tournament MVP … Volleyball Magazine – Fab 50 … 2008 Volleyball Preview Players to Watch – Featured Athlete … Finalist for the 2008 Andi Collins Award for Best Senior Setter … Top 250 Senior Ace … 2008 Chatham volleyball co-captain and MVP … earned the 2009 Tony ‘Anthony’ R. Mack Sportsmanship Award.