Russ Rose Then (2010): “Marika continues to improve. I think her efforts in the weight room from the fall and spring were positive. Shes strong and a good volleyball player. Where she fits in tie mix, we’ll see. I believe she’ll be someone we’ll look at as a front row player, as she is a solid blocker”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Marika was a player that we saw in camp. I was drawn to her by a number of factors. One was her physicality — she was incredibly strong. Another factor was she was always smiling, always trying to find ways to help the team and program. She has gone on to have great success and none of it is surprising. Anytime I needed anyone to do something, I would say, ‘Hey, listen, we have something. You know, we won this, and we need a player to meet somebody from the governor’s office.’ Marika, without any hesitation, would step up to fill whatever opening was needed to aid the program and be the face of the program. Marika was a very accomplished player who always competed hard. She didn’t have as many opportunities to play as she probably would have liked, but that didn’t alter how she approached coming to practice every day and being a loyal individual who was always upbeat and always positive in all interactions while she was in the program and after the program. She’s married now to a former PSU rugby athlete and has two children.”
2010 Season (Sophomore): 2010 National Champion … Academic All-Big Ten … saw action in 15 matches and 18 sets as a serving and defensive specialist … had 3 digs vs. Campbell (8/28) … tallied a kill, 2 digs and 2 blocks against Princeton (9/18) … had 1 dig each vs. Wisconsin (11/12) and Niagara (12/3).
Before Penn State: Four-year starter and letterwinner at Chatham High School in Chatham, N.J. … finished with a scholastic record of 99-12 … Chatham Cougars were 2005 and 2006 Morris County Tournament Finalists, 2006 New Jersey State Finalists and Iron Hills Conference (Hills Division) Champions, 2007 New Jersey State Champions, Morris County Tournament Champions and Iron Hlls Conference (Hills Division) Champions and 2008 Morris County Tournament Semifinalists and New Jersey State Semifinalists (Group II) … earned Second-Team All-Area as a freshman … 3-time First Team All-Area … 3-time First Team All-County … Second Team All-State 2006 … 3-time First Team All-State Group II … 2-time First Team All-State … 2-time First Team All-Conference … 2006 PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 … 2-time PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American … 2007 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year runner-up and 2008 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist … 2-time New Jersey Star-Ledger Player of the Year (Morris County) … 2007 Daily Record Player of the Year … 2007 Morris County Tournament MVP … Volleyball Magazine – Fab 50 … 2008 Volleyball Preview Players to Watch – Featured Athlete … Finalist for the 2008 Andi Collins Award for Best Senior Setter … Top 250 Senior Ace … 2008 Chatham volleyball co-captain and MVP … earned the 2009 Tony ‘Anthony’ R. Mack Sportsmanship Award.
