Russ Rose Then (2007): “Melissa has quietly put up great numbers through her first three seasons. She was an All-American during her sophomore season and last year everything about her game should have again garnered her recognition as well. She is a player who, most importantly, plays well in her position, which in turn allows us to play well around her. She[apos]s not our most dominant offensive player but she is a great blocker, a terrific teammate and if opponents leave her alone, she’ll score.”
Russ Rose Now (2025):
2006 Season: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten … ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District … Academic All-Big Ten … started all 35 matches of the year and played in all 114 games … averaged 1.66 kills per game on .405 hitting for the season to lead the team and the Big Ten and rank eighth on the single-season hitting percentage chart … led the team in total blocks with 179 and ranked second in blocks per game with an average of 1.57, good for 11th on the all-time single-season record list … ranked third in the conference and 15th in the nation in blocks per game … recorded at least one kill in 34 of 35 matches, posting a season-high 14 kills on .500 hitting (14-2-24) at Minnesota (10/28) … posted eight kills on an errorless 10 swings to hit .800 versus Michigan State (10/21) … had at least five kills in 21 matches of the year … averaged 2.67 kills per game on .577 hitting in sweeps of Purdue and Indiana (11/3-4) … hit for better than .400 on 21 occasions, including posting seven kills on an errorless 12 swings (.583) in the NCAA Regional Final loss at Washington (12/9) … also recorded 11 service aces and 42 digs for the season … had 34 multiple-block matches, including setting a new career high with 12 stuffs in the thrilling five-game win at Texas (9/8) … tallied three or more blocks on 32 occasions and five or more blocks 19 times.
Before Penn State: Four-time volleyball letterwinner at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pa. … team captain during senior season for the Falcons … compiled a record of 82-12 during scholastic tenure … member of the Suburban One League championship team in 2000, 2002 and 2003 … team won the district championship in 2003 and was a AAA Pennsylvania state finalist in 2003 for the first time in school history … named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and a Prepvolleyball.com All-American in 2003 … tabbed as a first team All-State selection in 2002 and 2003 … 2003 Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year … two-time Courier Times Player of the Year … named a Volleyball Magazine ‘Fab 50’ selection in 2003 … two-time District One first team selection, Courier Times Golden Team first team and Suburban One League First team … National Honor Society member … member of the high honor roll all four years of high school … named one of Pennsbury High School’s ‘Best and Brightest’ by the Trentonian … received the National Scholar Athlete Award from the U.S. Army Reserve.