Russ Rose Then (2007): “I thought that Nicole had an exceptional year last year and is continuing to make strides in improving her overall game in areas where she has weaknesses. She may be the best step-close hitter we’ve ever had here, as far as getting on the ball quickly. Her blocking is improving and the fact she’s a two-time All American after her first two years here is a clear indication of her talents. She is committed to the team and is well-deserving of her role as a leader.”
Russ Rose Now (2025):
2007 Season: AVCA First Team All-America … NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team … AVCA First Team All-Mideast Region … NCAA University Park Regional All-Tournament Team … unanimous First Team All-Big Ten … Big Ten Player of the Week (10/8) … Yale Classic All-Tournament Team … Penn State Classic All-Tournament Team … unanimous preseason All-Big Ten … started all 36 matches of the season and played in 120 of 122 games … for the NCAA Tournament (20 games), averaged 4.20 kills per game on .387 hitting with 12 service aces, 22 digs and 26 blocks … for the season, averaged 4.44 kills per game, good for second on the team and seventh in the Big Ten … finished with a hitting percentage of .313, good for 10th in the Big Ten … surpassed the 1,000 kill plateau in the season-opener against Texas (8/24) and ended the 2007 campaign with 1,512 career kills, good for fifth on the all-time list … her career total also makes her only the fifth player in Lion history to surpass the 1,500 career kills mark … her 533 kills in the 2007 season rank ninth on the PSU single-season list … led the team in kills 13 times … recorded double-digit kills in 31 of 36 matches and has double-digit kill numbers in 92 of her 103 collegiate matches … recorded a rally-scoring-era school record 31 kills in the five-game win over Cal Poly (8/31), also setting a new career high … had six contests with more than 20 kills … led the team and ranked second in the Big Ten with 47 service aces for the season, a number that more than doubled her previous career total of 40 heading into 2007 … produced five aces against Indiana (11/3) and had 15 multiple-ace contests … recorded 177 digs for the season, including three double-digit matches … ranked fifth on the squad with 1.48 digs per game … produced 101 total blocks for an average of 0.84 blocks per game … ended the 2007 season with 278 career total blocks, good for 14th all-time on the Penn State charts … recorded a career-high 11 blocks in the NCAA First Round win over Siena (11/30) … had at least two blocks in 24 contests.
Before Penn State: Four-year volleyball letterwinner and three-year track letterwinner for Benjamin Logan High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio … four-year team captain in volleyball for the Raiders … two-year member of the USA Junior National Team, including the 2004 squad that won the NORCECA gold medal in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada … member of the 2003 USA Youth National Team … 2004 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year … Volleyball Magazine ‘Fab 50’ … Ohio High Magazine Player of the Year … led the team to 92-13 scholastic record, including three league championships and the district and regional runner-up titles in 2004 … three-time First Team All-Ohio honoree … earned four First Team CBC honors, four First Team District IX accolades and three District IX Player of the Year awards … set the school record for kills in a season four consecutive years … holds the Ohio state record for career kills … regional track high jump finalist in 2004 and 2005 … member of the Team Atlantis Volleyball Club … National Honor Society member … named to the Fall Sport All-Academic Team and the honor roll.