“Meet the Newcomers: Penn State’s 2009 Recruiting Class” GoPSUsports, Sept. 7, 2009
Russ Rose Then (2009): “Fatima has good experience and a head for the game that is different from some American players. Fatima plays the game hard and she’s smart. I think once we get into playing, she’ll have better awareness of Division 1 volleyball. She had good success as a junior college player, but the [division 1] game is significantly different. The players are bigger, quicker, and stronger, but Fatima has immersed herself well in the community here and the players and her get along well.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Fatima was from Venezuela and was a junior college player on a successful team. We needed a middle and Fatima transferred to us for her junior and senior seasons. She was a breath of fresh air. She was wonderful then and is, to this day, still wonderful. She was physically strong, a good blocker, and came in and contributed. We had four All Americans around her, so she was not the focal point of the offense, but she worked hard and was mentally tough. She always competed. She was a really valuable part of our National Championship teams in 2009 and 2010. She’s now the head coach back at her junior college in western Nebraska.”
2009 Season (Junior) Highlights and Awards: 2009 National Champion.
Season Recap: Played in all 38 matches and 116 sets … started in 37 matches … finished second on the team with 171 total blocks, averaging 1.47 blocks per set, and block assists with 158 … her 1.47 blocks per set ranked 10th in the nation and third in the Big Ten … led the team in blocks 19 times … had three or more blocks in 32 matches, including a personal-best 12 at Ohio State (10/7) … finished sixth on the team with 101 kills, averaging 0.87 kills per set … had at least three kills on 20 occasions … made her debut as a Nittany Lions against Miami (Ohio) and tallied three kills and five blocks … had five kills on five errorless swings against Buffalo (9/4) … posted seven kills in nine attempts at Michigan State (10/17) … went four for seven with eight blocks at Purdue (11/20).
NCAA Tournament: Put up nine blocks against Hawaii in the NCAA National Semifinal (12/17) and again vs. Texas in the National Championships (12/19).
Before Penn State: 2008 Season (Sophomore at Western Nebraska CC): Named Most Valuable Player Region IX … helped guide WNCC to third place in the national tournament and a 59-4 overall record … garnered First Team All-America honors … named Female Athlete of the Year at WNCC … selected as Midlands Female College Athlete of the Year for Nebraska by the Omaha World Herald … led the team with 632 kills and .466 hitting percentage … had 227 total blocks, good enough for fifth on the single single ledger … set the school record in blocks with 437 career blocks … finished her career with a,1045 kills to be one of only eight players in school history to amass more than 1,000 kills.
2007 Season (Freshman at Western Nebraska CC): Named Freshman of the Year Region IX … helped WNCC win the NJCAA National Championship and a 59-2 overall record … Earned All-America Honorable Mention distinction … recorded 413 kills, and 210 blocks.
Venezuela
Began playing volleyball at the age of 12 with the Kuchitas Volleyball Team in her hometown of Merida, Venezuela … began training with the Venezuelan National Team in 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela … was a member of the national from from January 2003-June 2007 … captained the U16 National Team in 2004 … captained the Junior National Team in 2006.