Russ Rose Then (2008): “Katie is going to get some looks at both the left and right side positions. She has good size. We’re still trying to develop a consistent level of offensive play out of her at the net. She has a good feel for the game. A terrific team attitude, she has the awareness of what her position requires. She’s a wonderful kid who’s always smiling.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Katie was a player who could have been our third outside hitter, our third middle, our second right side. She could do everything, probably outside of setting. She was well-skilled, and just had this incredible fun energy about her all the time that was really valuable for the team’s development, because it is always good to have some comic relief. Katie was always in the middle of having fun, but don’t get me wrong, she worked hard. She was involved in volleyball for a while after graduating from Penn State and then worked for Flo Volleyball. I was, and am, a big fan of Katie. She didn’t play a lot, but she cared a lot. To me, that says a lot.”
2008 Season (Freshman): 2008 National Champion … played in 22 matches … saw first career action against UCLA (8/30) and recorded her first collegiate kill versus Ohio (8/31) … posted 8 kills versus Long Island (9/5) in first career action in Rec Hall … had 4 kills against Yale (9/19) … was 2-for 3 with 1 dig against New Hampshire (9/20) … tallied 2 kills at Northwestern (10/25) … notched 3 kills and 3 digs against Iowa (11/1) … was a perfect 2-for-2 against Indiana (11/5) … had 2 digs at Illinois (11/14).
Before Penn State: Four-year volleyball letterwinner at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C. … two-year captain for the Crusaders … helped the squad to four consecutive (2004-07) conference championships and three straight (2005-07) NCHSAA 2A State Championships … ended with a scholastic record of 119-13 and as the school record holder in career kills (1,500), career aces (221) and single-season kills (478) … her No. 4 jersey has been retired … hit for a career percentage of .419 (1,500-325-2802) with an average of 3.69 kills per game, also adding in 262 career blocks and 623 career digs … named the 2007-08 Cardinal Gibbons Co-Female Athlete of the Year … 2007-08 AVCA High School Senior All-American, Volleyball Magazine First Team All-American and PrepVolleyball.com All-American … 2008 Volleyball Magazine ‘Fab 50’ selection … 2006 and 2007 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year … two-time NCHSAA 2A Championship Most Outstanding Player … 2006 Mid-State Conference Player of the Year … two-time Raleigh News & Observer Volleyball Player of the Year … a finalist for PrepVolleyball.com Junior and Senior National Player of the Year honors … 2007 Great Eight Tournament Most Valuable Player … a member of Triangle Volleyball Club out of Raleigh, N.C. … team was the 2006 Big South Qualifier Champions … a member of the 2007 Junior Olympic 18 National Division All-Tournament Team … 2004-08 USAV Carolina Region Champions … Volleyball Magazine Scholar Athlete of the Month (July 2007) … member of the National Honor Society.