The women’s volleyball team at Sacramento State requires hard work, dedication and the willingness to throw oneself on the court at a moment’s notice. Junior setter Rose Burke serves as an excellent example.

As a young athlete, Burke tried her hands at many different sports, including gymnastics and swimming. She liked the idea of volleyball because when she won, her entire team won. As a child, she disliked the idea of beating her friends in swimming competitions, although they were part of the same team.

“I remember one time my friend got mad at me because I beat her,” Burke said. “But we were on the same team, and I didn’t like that so I wound up quitting like a month later, because I was. like, ‘that’s not cool,’ and volleyball was the next thing I did.”

Burke also chose volleyball because she felt her mom was a good role model for the game. Her mom also pushed her to continue playing when the game got difficult.

“My mom played and I grew up watching her play on a city-league team and so I was interested in it,” Burke said.

Before playing collegiate volleyball, Burke was a superstar for her high school team in Gainseville, Fla. In high school, Burke was the varsity team’s setter for four years, and during her junior season she posted 998 assists. In her senior year, she was named the Gainseville High School Athlete of the Year.

She also played club volleyball for the Gainseville Juniors for six years.

Burke’s mother, Stacey Burke, remembered a funny moment that took place while at a club tournament.

“There were these guys who followed the team around that we called ‘The Tribe,’ and one day they came to a game without their shirts on and the boys had R-O-S-E painted on their chests. We thought it was pretty funny, but of course Rose was embarrassed by it,” Stacey said.

When Burke first arrived at Sac State, she wasn’t exactly prepared for the season she was about to face. Coach Debby Colberg brought in Burke as a setter, but didn’t allow her to play that position most of her first season as a Hornet.

“Her first year she didn’t set. I mean, we started her as a setter, but she just wasn’t ready,” Colberg said.

Fellow teammate and senior middle hitter Lindsay Haupt also knew Burke had the potential to be a great setter, but she just wasn’t ready for her first year.

“She has grown so much both physically and mentally and as a leader. I look at her now as a leader on the team. Before she came in, she had good placement and she was a good setter, but the intelligence of the game wasn’t completely there, but she has pushed along and listened to everything. She has also been a hard worker and it has really paid off,” Haupt said.

Being the only recruit ever from Florida, Burke noticed differences between East and West Coast volleyball.

“I think they take volleyball a little more seriously out here. When I played in Florida and we came out here to play, the teams were so much bigger and stronger, and more disciplined looking,” Burke said.

Burke may be used to a different style of play, but she has adapted to her new surroundings. Colberg also noticed her ability to take in coaching from herself or assistant Ruben Volta.

“I think she has gotten better with (taking criticism) than when she first came in. There was a lot of emotion after she got coached in terms of reactions and reacting to mistakes when we started,” Colberg said.

As Burke progressed, the coaching staff had a couple serious talks with her to help ease the transition into a new team, and a new style of coaching.

Burke is currently the main setter for the Hornets. The most important aspect of the game lies in the hands of the setter.

“A setter controls a game and for a middle, it is a huge deal to have a good setter. Everything counts, whether the ball is off the net or in the right spot,” Haupt said.

Burke enjoys being vocal with the team both on and off the court. During a game, she is one of the loudest players when the Hornets get a point.

“Another thing about Rosie is that she is a very loud person when she cheers and it is crucial for using winning and being happy on the court,” Haupt said.

Burke enjoys being a part of the fun-loving family that makes up the Sac State Hornet volleyball team. Goofing around with teammates is one of Burke’s favorite parts.

She also enjoys working with the coaching staff and using weird antics as a source of entertainment.

“Debby says these comments to us and they are really funny. My favorite one was when Jenny (Ferguson) was hitting a back-row attack and she hit it out of bounds and Debby said, ‘There’s 900 square feet over there, why don’t you hit one?’ and it was definitely funny,” Burke said.

As of Oct. 21, Burke has been ranked 31 in the nation in assists per game (12.66) and has 1,089 assists.

Burke also enjoys watching volleyball, even if it is not her team. One of her favorite parts of the game is watching talented people do well on the court.

“My favorite part is when there is a play that shouldn’t have been made and someone makes it. Whether it is me or someone else, it is definitely my favorite thing. I just like watching someone make the unbelievable play,” Burke said.

Contact Alicia de la Garza at [email protected]