Russ Rose Then (2005): “Christa was recognized as the best player in the state of Pennsylvania and she made a commitment to get even better after receiving the award. Her selection to the USA Junior National Team for the second time identified her as one of the nation’s elite in her age group. I think she’ll have a great career at Penn State because she is a player that feels strongly about competing in Rec Hall. She’s strong and quick and that’s a great combination for a middle hitter.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Christa had an unbelievable career at Penn State and went on to be the captain of the Olympic team. She didn’t have as long of a professional career as she could have, because she got married and focused on her family and children. While she was at Penn State, every decision she made was a good decision for her and the team. I’ve told a story about a time I came in early one Sunday morning to go to go in my office, and I bumped into Christa. She’s dressed up all nice, and I’m like ‘What are you doing?’ And she says ‘I teach Sunday school.’ And I’m thinking “What more good things can you do?’ She was a player that led by example. She and Nic [Fawcett] never backed down from competition, and we had great success with them and others during the four-year stretch from 2007 to 2010. Christa is one of the players I coached who if I had to check a box for who I would want to coach for my entire career, she would be one of those individuals. She was committed to everyone and was one of the best players in the country at her position.”
2005 Season (Freshman) Highlights and Awards: AVCA Honorable Mention All-America … AVCA First Team All-Mideast Region … First Team All-Big Ten … Big Ten All-Freshman Team … Big Ten Player of the Week (Oct. 10) … AVCA/NACWAA Showcase All-Tournament Team … Penn State Classic Most Outstanding Player … one of only four freshman to ever be named First Team All-Big Ten, joining fellow freshman Nicole Fawcett along with Bonnie Bremner and Lauren Cacciamani, who both earned the honor in 1996 … also became the 2nd PSU freshman to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Season Recap: Started the first 29 matches of the year before missing the final Big Ten weekend and all three matches of the NCAA Tournament with a knee injury … set the Penn State record for blocks in a 4-set match with 13 versus Southern California (8/31) … led the team in blocking with 1.50 blocks/set, good for 12th on the single-season record chart … recorded 25 matches with 3 or more blocks, including 14 matches with 5 or more blocks … ranked 2nd on the team and 3rd in the Big Ten in hitting percentage (.356), including hitting .378 for 3rd in conference-only matches … ranked 2nd on the team in kills/set with 2.96 … recorded at least 6 kills in 28 of 29 matches … had 14 multiple-kill matches, including a career-high 14 versus Stanford (8/26) … recorded her 1st career double-double with 12 kills on .571 hitting with 13 blocks against Southern California (8/31).
NCAA Tournament: Missed the final Big Ten weekend and all three matches of the NCAA Tournament with a knee injury.
Before Penn State: Three-year volleyball letterwinner and two-year basketball letterwinner at Hopewell High School in Hopewell Township, Pa. … team captain for the Vikings in 2004 … Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004 … two-time Prep Volleyball High School All-American … 2004-2005 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Female High School Athlete of the Year … a member of the 2004 USA Women’s Junior National Team that won the NORCECA Championship in Winnipeg, Canada … also selected to the 2005 USA Junior National Team that competed in Ankara, Turkey, at the FIVB Under-20 World Championships … two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Athlete of the Week … Mizuno First Team All-American following senior season, also picking up Beaver County Times, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Female Athlete of the Year accolades … two-time first team all-state, all-WPIAL and all-section … posted a scholastic team record of 75-4 through three years … recorded a school-record 186 blocks during junior season in 2003 … also posted a school-record .595 hitting percentage in senior year to go along with 448 kills, 376 digs and 172 blocks … led the team to a No. 1 ranking in the state of Pennsylvania and the 2004 section, WPIAL and state championships, winning every tournament entered prior to the postseason … also section and AA WPIAL champions in 2002 and 2003 … helped Hopewell to a 59-0 record against WPIAL opponents from 2001 to 2005 and a 103-match winning streak against section opponents … member of the Pittsburgh Renaissance Volleyball Club that qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2004 and 2005 … member of the National Honor Society … earned the KDKA Extra Effort Award … a four-year scholar athlete … named the Lions Club Student of the Month … was a member of the Principal’s Student Leadership Advisory Board.