Russ Rose Then (2006): “Kara continues to make progress in the areas that we think are important for her to be able to contribute. She has developed a strong serve and also serves as a back-up setter in practice. She is a player who her teammates enjoy, yet I want her to be a better defender in the back row.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Kara came from a good club program and came in as a primary backrow player. She was one of the great characters on the team. She was a player who was always about the team and working hard and having fun. She wasn’t a starter, but she was someone that came in who could serve and play good defense, and I had confidence that she would be able to do those things when she got the opportunity. Years later, she’s still that same, upbeat, happy human.”
2006 Season (Junior): Academic All-Big Ten … played in 19 matches and 21 games as a serving and defensive specialist … posted seven digs and four service aces for the year, including first career ace against Nicholls State (8/25) at the LSU Classic … recorded two digs against Eastern Kentucky (9/1) and at Iowa (9/22) … also picked up a dig versus Ohio State (9/20), Michigan State (10/21) and Indiana (11/4).
Before Penn State: Three-year letterwinner at Bloomington (Ill.) High School … team captain during senior year for the Raiders … helped squad to three Illinois sectional titles … named to the Big 12 team during senior season … also earned the coaches award … member of the honor roll, Who’s Who and the Big 12 academic team.
“Quintet of unsung heroes key to Lions’ recent success,” The Daily Collegian, Nov. 15, 2007