Russ Rose Now (2025): Katie had a very large competitive streak. And she had a great, great arm. She came from an athletic family — her dad played football at Michigan and her brother played football at Illinois. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school, and probably was more decorated as a basketball player than as a volleyball player. She and Nadia Edwards redshirted in 1997, but the team played against them every day and they made the starters significantly better. And she made great contributions, obviously, in 1999. Katie was never fearful of competition. When I look at what she was like when she was young, and what she is like now, that remains a constant — that she’s not fearful, that she’s competitive, that she’s willing to get in there and get after it.
Before Penn State: A four-year starter in both volleyball and basketball at Mother McAuley High School; captained both squads her senior year; member of the USA Volleyball Youth National Team in 1996 and 1997; Chicago Sun-Times Female Athlete of the Year; four-time Alll-Area and All-Conference selection; led the Mother McAuley Mighty Macs to the state tourney all four years, winning two titles; team was No. 1 in the nation in 1996 and No. 6 in 1997; Daily Southtown 1997 Player of the Year; two-time Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune All Area Pick; Champaign Gazette Athlete-of-the-Year; twice named All-State; four time All-Conference pick in basketball; led team to three state playoff appearances, finishing as high as second; second team All-State and Sun-Times All-Area in 1997; Star 1997 Player of the year for volleyball and basketball.
