Russ Rose Then (2011): “Micha was the starting setter on last year’s USA team that finished second in Singapore. She’s an aggressive attacker who also has a great handle from the setting position. I think she’s going to give us a different look than we’ve had in the past since she’s left-handed. Micha is naturally strong and not afraid to take a good swing as a lefthanded attacker. She’s a really competitive player and I know she will go hard every day. Her contributions could be both as a setter or as a hitter.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “Micha was one of the iconic players during her years in college volleyball just by the impact that her serve generated. To me, her greatest strength was how mentally tough and competitive she was. I never had to worry about her being ready to go out there and compete, doing everything she could to help the team. She played when she was banged up, and demonstrated great leadership. She was a National Champion, a multi-year All American, a two time Olympian, and an Olympic Gold medalist. She’s still playing professionally in the U.S. after numerous seasons outside the country. She checks all the boxes. Good student, great teammate. I am incredibly appreciative of everything she did while she was here at Penn State, proud of who she was when she was here, and proud of who she is today.”
2011 Season (Freshman)Highlights and Awards: AVCA Mideast Region Freshman of the Year … Unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection … Big Ten Freshman of the Year … Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week (11/14, 11/21, 11/28) … Pittsburgh Invitational MVP … AVCA Showcase All-Tournament Team … directed the Penn State offense to a .267 hitting percentage, which ranked 12th nationally … her 10.54 assists/set ranked 6th in the Big Ten … totaled 1,275 assists for the season … guided Katie Slay to a .386 hitting percentage, which ranked 15th nationally … set the Penn State single season aces record with 91 … her 0.75 aces/set led the Big Ten and was 2nd in the nation.
Season Recap: Appeared in all 33 matches, starting 32, and played in 121 of 122 sets … … posted 279 digs for the season to rank 2nd on the squad … had at least 1 kill in every match and totaled 110 for the season … notched 59 total blocks … had 7 kills on 8 errorless swings, a match-high 6 aces vs. USC (8/27) … totaled 53 assists and 12 digs against Nebraska (9/21) … had 45 assists, a career-high 7 aces and 19 digs vs. Illinois (10/8) … had 35 assists and 6 aces vs. Nebraska (10/29) … had 58 assists and led the team with 18 digs at Minnesota (11/4) … dished out 60 assists and had 13 digs at Wisconsin (11/6).
NCAA Tournament: Was the starting setter in all 3 of Penn State’s NCAA Tournament matches.
Before Penn State: Four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year team captain at Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Okla. … guided her team to the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Oklahoma 6A State Championship … was a two-time All-Edmond Player of the Year, All-City Player of the Year and MVP of the State Championship All-Tournament Team … twice named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year … voted High School All-American by PrepVolleyball.com … earned a spot on the 2009 USA Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team … was a candidate for PrepVolleyball National Junior of the Year and National Senior of the Year … named to the PrepVolleyball.com Class of 2011 Top 50 Recruits and 2011 Senior Ace… Volleyball Magazine ‘Fab 50’ … earned Best Setter Award in 2010 USA High Performance International Championship Tournament … selected to the 2010 Youth Olympic Team … was a 2010 Under Armour All-American.
