Russ Rose Then (1998): “I think Amanda’s going to be able to come in and pass and play defense at this level immediately. She always competes very hard, but she’s going to have some limitations.  She’s not going to be a hitter that is like Carrie Schonveld or jump like Christy Cochran, but if we can teach her to be a smart hitter then we’ll be fine.  That’s tough to do because young people want to come in and hit it hard, not realising that at the top levels, the block is very good.  But I think Amands’s going to be able to come in and afford us some substitution opportunities where she has great confidence, where she can go in and do some things right away.  Amanda will make a definite impact in our program during her career.”

Russ Rose Now (2025): “Amanda was one of the nation’s top recruits.  She was a great passer, a great defensive player, and she had a strong arm.  Amanda was fearless as a competitor.  She has gone on to be a very successful lawyer.”

Before Penn State: Played five years at Chaska High School and started at every position during that span; led Hawks to three state titles (1993, 1994, and 1996), as well as a second place finish in 1995 and a third place finish in 1997; named to Volleyball Magazine’s 1998 “Fab 50” team; was team captain her senior year; was an All-American, All-State, and All-Conference — as well as earning Metro Player of the Year — in both her junior and senior years; was the 1996 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year; also earned All-Conference and All-Metro honors as both a sophomore and a freshman, and was honorable mention All-Conference as an eighth grader.

“Winning in the cards for Rome,” The Daily Collegian, Sept. 15, 1999