Russ Rose Then (2004): “Sam has the potential to not only be the best setter in the country, but to demonstrate the type of leader she has become, becuase that is going to be her biggest challenge this year.  She is going to be interacting with younger players in the middle and on the outside and it’s going to be a big challenge for her to be able to lead those players as well as perform her duties as assigned.  It will be a good challenge for Sam.  From a setting standpoint, I think she has established herself as one of the nation’s finest and she represents Penn State in a great fashion.”

Russ Rose Now (2025):

Before Penn State: Volleyball Magazine’s “Fab 50” selection; a four-year letterwinner at Joliet Catholic Academny in Joliet, Illinois; two-time captain for the Angels; also a member of Sports Performance for eight years (1994-2002); led Sports Performance 18-1 to 2002 AAU National Championship; Chicago Sun-Times 2001 Player of the Year for Volleyball; 2000 USA Youth National Team member; four-time AAU All-America honoree; 2001 AAU Most Valuable Player; member of the 2000 Junior Olympic All-Tournament team; led Sports Performance to a second-place finish at the National Junior Classic in 2000 and first place finishes at the National Junior Classic and AAU Nationals and claimed the Junior Olympic Silver Division championship in 2001; named Best Setter at the the 2000, 2001, and 2002 National Junior Classic; member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and earned a high school leadership scholarship.

“Senior week is special,” The Daily Collegian, Oct. 10, 2005