Russ Rose Then (2017): “Kendall is a well-skilled player who’s incredibly competitive. She plays hard every day, at every practice, in every drill, so she embodies what I think is important in a back row player. I look forward to seeing the growth in her awareness as to what she can do from there to help the team’s position. She knows only one speed.”
Russ Rose Now (2026): “Kendall White was, in my eyes, a top recruit nationally, as she was playing on Munciana, which is one of the top clubs in the country, and coached by one of my favorite club coaches. I knew that the players that played for him were tough, and they were always held to high expectations, and they needed to be accountable and responsible. When I was recruiting Kendall, she was with the top team, and I just remember during timeouts she was talking more than the coach. I can’t say enough about Kendall. She was as advertised. She went hard every day, and she was a terrific leader. She has continued her career with time in the USA gym as well as playing professionally.”
2017 Season (Sophomore)Highlights and Awards: Second-Team All-American, becoming the first Penn State libero since Kaleena Walters in 2005 to earn All-America status … was the only libero voted to the All-Big Ten Team … earned a spot on the All-Northeast Region Team … Academic All-Big Ten.
Season Recap: Started all 35 matches at libero…led the team with 462 digs (3.76/set) … in conference play,averaged 3.75 digs per set … dished out 23 aces on the year, while adding 79 assists … finished the regular season with a 97.4-percent success rating in her 468 serve receive attempts … helped the Nittany Lions achieve their national-best hitting percentage of .347 by consistently providing cover plays for her hitters … helped keep Penn State’s opponents to just .167 hitting and 11.51 kills/set … recorded double-digit digs in 25 matches, including 4 matches with at least 20 digs … ranked 5th in the Big Ten with 455 digs … vs. Yale (9/15) totaled a career-best 4 service aces … at Michigan State (11/1) recorded a season-high 29 digs in a 3-1 win.
NCAA Tournament: Averaged 3.89 digs/set for Penn State’s 5 NCAA Tournament matches … totaled 15 digs vs. Pitt in NCAA Second Round match (12/2) … posted 18 digs in Regional Final sweep of Michigan State (12/9) … recorded 18 digs in 5-set loss to Nebraska in NCAA Semifinal match (12/14).
Before Penn State: Was a 4-year letterwinner at Cathedral … as the team’s libero, helped the Irish become the first Indiana 4A team to post an undefeated record (36-0) in 2015 on the way to an Indiana Class 4A state title … earned Indiana all-state first team honors from 2014-16, as well as second-team laurels in 2013 … picked up all-city honors from 2013-16 … served as team captain at Cathedral in 2015-16, earning team MVP honors in 2016 … selected as the Indy Star Player of the Year and Cathedral’s High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2015-16 … named Indiana’s volleyball Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2015-16 … earned 2015 PrepVolleyball.com High School All-America honors … selected to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA volleyball team in 2015 … played club volleyball with Munciana, earning AAU All-America accolades in 2015-16.
