Russ Rose Then (2010): “Katie is a great natural blocker. She has the potential to become a strong front row player for us. Katie is one of out most engaging and enthusiastic kids. She’s a terrific blocker. We have to get her offense up to par, but she’s smart and a great team player. I don’t think you’re ever at a disadvantage when you have someone who can block the ball the way she does.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Katie wasn’t as athletic as she was successful. She had a high hitting percentage. She led us in hitting percentage and blocks-per-set each of her last three years and was always one of the top blockers in the country. Katie was bright, both on the court and off as she was the 2013 Academic All-America of the Year. What I especially valued about Katie was she played to her strengths. She didn’t try and do things that would have been a little more challenging for her. I remember specifically in the Washington National Semifinal match in 2013, telling her “You need to go in the gap and hit the ball in the gap, and then do the same thing when you look at the diggers in the back row.” She did that, and I think she hit over .700 in that match, by being smart and playing to her strength. After she graduated from Penn State, she was selected for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2014 NORCECA World Championship Qualifying Tournament, along with Maddie Martin. She returned home and went to grad school and coached at her former club.”
2010 Season (Freshman)Season Recap: 2010 National Champion … played in 23 matches (11 starts), and 52 sets … totaled 54 kills on .404 hitting for the season … had at least 1 kill in 21 matches, with a career-high 10 at Michigan State (11/6) … registered a career-best attack percentage of .700 (7-0-10) at Michigan (11/5) … was 5th on the team with 83 total blocks (1.60 blocks per set) … led the team in blocks 7 times … had at least 1 block in 21 matches with 18 multiple-block matches … posted a personal-best 10 blocks, including 2 solo stuffs, at Michigan (11/5).
NCAA Tournament: Led the team with 6 blocks vs. Texas in the NCAA National Semifinals (12/16) … had a match-high 7 blocks against California in the National Championship (12/18).
Before Penn State: Four-year varsity letterwinner and two-year captain at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C. … three-time Cap-7 All-Conference honoree … 2009 Cap-7 Conference Player of the Year… named Cap-7 Academic All-Conference three times … 2008-09 Wakefield High Female Athlete MVP… First Team AVCA/Under Armour, ESPN RISE, Volleyball Magazine and PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American (2010)… Sports Imports – Fab 50 … ranked No. 18 college recruit by PrepVolleyball.com … named Raleigh News and Observer 2009 Volleyball Player of the Year … as a member of Triangle[apos]s 18 Black club team, placed first in 18 Open Lone Star Qualifier and second in 18 Open Mid-East Qualifier (2009-10) … named to the USA Women[apos]s Junior National Team sophomore and junior year … won the NORCECA Continental Championship U-20 in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico… four-year Lamp of Knowledge award winner … member of National Honor Society… also lettered in basketball.
