Russ Rose Then (2016): “I am really hoping Simone will be able to pick up some of the offensive gaps that we have with the graduation of Aiyana Whitney and Megan Courtney. She didn’t have a full time role last year, but I thought she had a good spring and she’s arguably our strongest athlete. Her energy is great and I’m confident that she’ll be able to carry a big load for us this year.”
Russ Rose Now (2025):
2016 Season (Junior) Highlights and Awards: AVCA First Team All-American … AVCA All-Northeast Region Team … Unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection … NCAA Lincoln Regional All-Tournament team … named Big Ten Player of the Week and espnW National Player of the Week following a 30-kill performance in an upset of No. 1 Minnesota … Penn State Classic All-Tournament team … led Penn State with 503 kills, which ranked 4th most for Penn State during a single season in the 25-point rally scoring era.
Season Recap: Started in all 34 matches, playing all 121 sets … totaled 17 service aces, 194 digs and 63 total blocks … posted 23 kills against No. 19 North Carolina (8/27), adding 10 digs for her first career double-double … led the team with 19 kills at Colorado (9/3) … led the team with her 3rd straight match with double-figure kills, tallying 12 vs. No. 9 Stanford (9/4)…led team in kills with 13 at Rutgers (9/21) on .458 hitting, along with 6 digs … set a career record with 4 aces and added 10 kills against Northwestern (9/25)…pounded a career-high 30 kills against No.1 Minnesota (10/5)… 30 kills marked third most for Penn State in a single match during the 25-point rally scoring era …. notched 15 kills to lead the team along with 2 digs and a solo stuff against No. 22 Purdue (10/14)…logged a team-high 27 kills, 6 digs and a block against No. 16 Michigan (10/22)…notched 19 kills to go along with 6 digs and 1 ace vs. No. 4 Wisconsin (10/28)…recorded her 2nd career double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs against No. 3 Minnesota (10/29)…Charted her 3rd career double-double with 23 kills and a career-high 13 digs vs. No. 1 Nebraska (11/4) … put down 19 kills and 4 digs vs. Ohio State (11/12) … logged 6 kills and 7 digs against No. 1 Nebraska (11/16) … recorded 20 kills, 5 digs and a solo stuff against Illinois (11/26).
NCAA Tournament: Led the team with 12 kills and a match-high 5 blocks in the NCAA Tournament First Round match vs. LIU Brooklyn (12/2)…put down 14 kills and 9 digs in the Second Round match against Pitt (12/3) … logged a team-high 22 kills, 12 digs and 3 blocks in the Regional Semifinal match against Nebraska (12/9).
Before Penn State: A 4-year starter and 2-year captain at Menomonee Falls … guided the Indians to a WIAA state championship title, picking up All-State honors following her sophomore and junior seasons … with her club team, Club Fusion, she earned 4 AAU all-tournament team honors … a member of the 2012 and 2013 USA Girls’ Youth National Team, helping the team to a 1st-place finish at the NORCECA U18 Continental Championships in 2012 and a 2nd-place finish at the FIVB U18 World Championships in 2013 … a 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-American … 2013 Mizuno First Team All-American … 2013 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year.