Russ Rose Then (2007): “Jessica has had a good spring and summer and has been working very hard to get herself into the mix. She has a good amount of experience playing volleyball from the setting position and I’ve been pleased with what she has been doing this summer. She is connecting well with the middles, and as her confidence improves, so will her ability to help and lead the team. Jess is tough and has a better understanding of the college game and what she needs to do to help us.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “I think Jess Yanz was certainly one of the top recruits in the country at the setting position. She wasn’t with us for her whole career, as she left and went to Nebraska, and then finished up her eligibility at Dayton. Jess was very talented, and she was a very important part of the program. She was instrumental in helping Alisha Glass with her development as a setter because Jess was a pure setter, whereas before college, Alisha had been more of a hitter who could set. Jess played for Kelly Sheffield at Dayton and then went with him when he went to Wisconsin. She is their director of volleyball operations and has a couple of children. I have great respect for Jess as a player, and how she handled playing and working with Alicia Glass in her development.”
2007 Season (Sophomore): 2007 National Champion … played in a total of 30 sets in 18 matches, including four starts, helping the Nittany Lions to a 34-2 record and a national title … averaged 6.33 assists per set … posted a career-best 42 assists against Virginia Commonwealth.
Transferred to Nebraska following the 2007 season, where she redshirted in 2008 due to NCAA eligibility rules … backed up All-American Sydney Anderson at Nebraska in 2009 … subsequently transferred to Dayton for her final year of eligibility in 2010.
Before Penn State: Four-year letterwinnerr at Naperville Central (Illinois) High School; led the Redhawks to the 2005 Class AA State Championship with a 39-4 record; 2006 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year; named a “Fab 50” selection by Volleyball Magazine in 2006; two-time DuPage Valley Conference all-league selection in 2004 and 2005; four-time DuPage Valley Conference academic all-league selection; Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year for volleyball in 2005; two-time Naperville Sun all-area selection in 2004 and 2005; Chicago Tribune First Team All-State in 2005; two-time Daily Herald all-area selection in 2004 and 2005; 2005 School Sports magazine Girls Player of the Year; 2005 Champaign Gazette First Team All-State; finished high school career with a school-record 2, 705 assists, including a school-record 902 during her senior campaign; member of the Sports Performance Volleyball Club for five years (2001-2006); named “Best Setter” at the 2004 and 2006 National Junior Classic; three-time AAU All-American honoree; 2004 AAU Most Valuable Player; participated in an international tournament in Russia against teams from Moscow, Kazakhstan and Russia, earning a gold medal; led Sports Performance to a first place finish at the 2006 National Junior Classic; member of the 2005 Sports Performance team that won the Junior Olympic National Open Championship; member of the National Honor Society and the Spansish National Honor Society.
“Setter leaves for Nebraska,” The Daily Collegian, Jan. 31, 2008
Editors Note: GoPSUsports doesn’t have a 2007 Player Page for Jessica Yanz.