Russ Rose Then (2004): “Ashley is a player who we are going to need big numbers from offensively this season. She is our best outside hitter and certainly our most experienced returning outside hitter. She has demonstrated over time in Big Ten matches, and in matches with numerous other teams, that when she is on, she will be our go-to player. We’re hoping she can keep herself as healthy as she can going into her senior year, and carry us as long as that arm will hold on. She has improved her skills and always has the desire to win the next rally.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Ashley was an incredible athlete at Roosevelt High School in South Dakota. She could have been a college basketball player as well. She was kind of a unicorn at that time. She was an outside hitter, and in warm ups, she would hit a one-ball and she would bounce it. It’s hard to know what you’re gonna get with people when you recruit them — it’s easy to just look at some physical attributes. Ashley was very physical, she had a great arm, and she had a great jump. She carried us in a lot of matches and I never had to worry about her playing hard. Ashley and Syndie Nadeau were great pals, and always had smiles on their faces. And they were mischievous, which I liked. I was really pleased with what Ashley could do on the court and with her willingness to change positions to help the team. She was an outside, but on serve-reception you have to hit middle. Some players come out of club and are apprehensive to expand their horizons to help the team. But Ashley was somebody who was willing to do that. She coached in college after playing pro ball. Ashley was a great talent and she was tough. I’ve always been a big fan.”
2004 Season (Senior) Highlights and Awards: Stanford Invitational All-Tournament Team … Penn State Invitational All-Tournament Team … Preseason All-Big Ten.
Season Recap: Played in 31 matches of 32 matches (starting 28), and 106 of 109 sets for the season … ranked 2nd on the team with 3.80 kills/set and 2nd on the team with 4.21 points/set … averaged .52 blocks/set (6th on the team) … averaged 1.49 digs/set (6th on the team) … recorded a double-double at Minnesota (10/2), with 25 kills, 13 digs.
Before Penn State: A four-year starter at Roosevelt High … led the team to the South Dakota State Championship in 2000 … earned first-team All-State honors in each of her last three seasons … ended her prep career as Roosevelt’s all-time leader in kills and aces … also posted the highest hitting percentage in the schools history at .452 … was chosen to participate in the 1998 Colorado Olympic Training and was a Youth National Team alternate in 1998 and 1999 … also enjoyed a highly successful basketball career as she led the Roosevelt hoops squad to 83-consecutive wins and four-straight state titles … Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection … honored as the 2001 South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year.
“Penn State hitter picks up milestone,” The Daily Collegian, Sept. 13, 2004