Russ Rose Then (2010): “I thought Fatima hit the ground running last year and did a great job in a tough situation playing with new people and veteran, demanding teammates. I thought she did more than an admirable job. This year she[apos]ll have to be more of an offensive player, continue her good blocking and seeing if she can make some contributions in other areas. She[apos]s a mature and experienced player and we[apos]ll have to depend on that more this year with the youth around her.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Fatima was from Venezuela and was a junior college player on a successful team. We needed a middle and Fatima transferred to us for her junior and senior seasons. She was a breath of fresh air. She was wonderful then and is, to this day, still wonderful. She was physically strong, a good blocker, and came in and contributed. We had four All Americans around her, so she was not the focal point of the offense, but she worked hard and was mentally tough. She always competed. She was a really valuable part of our National Championship teams in 2009 and 2010. She’s now the head coach back at her junior college in western Nebraska.”
2010 Season (Senior): 2010 National Champion … played in 31 matches and 81 sets. . . averaged 1.19 kills per set, with a .386 hitting percentage. . . was 2nd on the team with 1.33 blocks per set.
Before Penn State: 2008 (Sophomore at Western Nebraska CC): Named Most Valuable Player Region IX … helped guide WNCC to third place in the national tournament and a 59-4 overall record … garnered First Team All-America honors … named Female Athlete of the Year at WNCC … selected as Midlands Female College Athlete of the Year for Nebraska by the Omaha World Herald … led the team with 632 kills and .466 hitting percentage … had 227 total blocks, good enough for fifth on the single single ledger … set the school record in blocks with 437 career blocks … finished her career with a,1045 kills to be one of only eight players in school history to amass more than 1,000 kills.
2007 (Freshman at Western Nebraska CC): Named Freshman of the Year Region IX … helped WNCC win the NJCAA National Championship and a 59-2 overall record … Earned All-America Honorable Mention distinction … recorded 413 kills, and 210 blocks.
Venezuela
Began playing volleyball at the age of 12 with the Kuchitas Volleyball Team in her hometown of Merida, Venezuela … began training with the Venezuelan National Team in 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela … was a member of the national from from January 2003-June 2007 … captained the U16 National Team in 2004 … captained the Junior National Team in 2006.