From the first week of the season, Penn State coach Russ Rose makes it clear to his players that he wants them to play with a high level of energy.
Here, while addressing his team in a preseason practice, he spends a minute not only talking about why energy is important on the volleyball court but why it could be the difference between getting a job and not getting one.
Rose’s message has obviously been heeded over the years. One of his former players, outside hitter Christy Cochran, continued playing in the 1997 NCAA championship match after losing a tooth. Another former Nittany Lion great, middle blocker Lauren Cacciamani, led PSU in 1999 to the first of its six NCAA titles despite frequent bouts with asthma.