Russ Rose Then (1995): “Emily is a player that is going to bring a lot of things to our program. She’s a great right-side player because of her ability to block and has really strong hands. She’ll also train as our back-up setter. Emily’s playing in one of the top junior programs in the country and I really like the opportunities that she’s getting. One rotation she’s setting, the next she’s playing middle and then one time she’s hitting right or left-side. She’s going to have a lot of experience playing a variety of positions. Emily, as well as the other members of this freshman class, is why I feel very positive about the future of Penn State volleyball.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Emily was a well-skilled player. In 1998 she was my backup middle blocker. And also my backup right side player. I would even say she was my backup setter. So she was really a good player and a great blocker. And in this day and age, she might have just transferred somewhere else for a lot of money. But she was a loyal and hard-working, and a really pleasant person. Emily spent a number of years coaching high school herself. Emily was a very positive contributor to the program.”
1995 Season (Freshman) Highlights and Awards: Volleyball Monthly Freshmen to Watch.
Season Recap: Stout competed in 25 of 35 matches and 38 of 116 sets in her freshman season … recorded 31 kills, 17 digs and 10 blocks on the year … posted season-bests of 4 digs (twice) and 2 blocks (3 times).
NCAA Tournament: Smacked a season-high 6 kills and 24 attacks in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal (12/8) against Nebraska (7-15, 6-15, 16-14, 2-15).
Fun Facts: “No one on the Penn State women’s volleyball team would pass up one of Emily Stout’s homemade Special K bars. They’re a tasty treat and they’re vitamin-packed. ‘They’re peanut butter and Special K cereal,’ Stout said. ‘Everyone on the team loves them. It’s really corny and people think I’m like Suzy Homemaker, but I really enjoy cooking and making up my own concoctions. I just love knowing that good nutrients are going into my body and they’re benefiting me.’ . . . Stout, a middle hitter for the Lady Lions, lives and majors in kinesiology. She knows the human body inside and out. After her volleyball days are over, Stout has two fitness goals for herself — train for the Miss Fitness competition and run in a marathon. She’s also considering applying for a bouncer position at The Tavern, 220 E. College Ave.” Middle Muscle, Collegian, Oct. 6, 1998
Before Penn State: Stout took full advantage of Seymour High School’s extracurricular athletic activities and participated in four sports, excelling on the volleyball court; she was an All-State selection in 1994 and garnered All-South Central Conference honors in 1993 and 1994; named to the Volleyball Monthly “Fab 50” list; the two-time captain led the Owls to the conference title and advanced to the finals of the state tournament her senior year. Stout was a member of the 1994 Junior Olympic Elite Team; Seymour’s two-time team MVP was a member of the 1995 South team that faced the Northern All-Stars; she played doubles on Seymour’s tennis team, and she ran hurdles and long and high jumped for the track squad; she also competed on the floor and vault as a gymnast; Stout was also a member of the National Honor Society.
“Middle Muscle,” The Daily Collegian, Oct. 6, 1998
“Reserves now getting chance to crack into lady spiker lineup,” The Daily Collegian, Nov. 19, 1997
“Young blood stepping up for lost Lady Lions,” The Daily Collegian, Nov. 5, 1995
