Pronounced: Fa-tee-ma Ball-za
 Fatima Balza |
Collegiate Career
2009 (Junior at Penn State): Played in all 38 matches and 116 sets ... started in 37 matches ... finished second on the team with 171 total blocks, averaging 1.47 blocks per set, and block assists with 158 ... her 1.47 blocks per set ranked 10th in the nation and third in the Big Ten ... led the team in blocks 19 times ... had three or more blocks in 32 matches, including a personal-best 12 at Ohio State (10/7) ... put up nine blocks against Hawaii in the NCAA National Semifinal (12/17) and again vs. Texas in the National Championships (12/19) ... finished sixth on the team with 101 kills, averaging 0.87 kills per set ... had at least three kills on 20 occasions ... made her debut as a Nittany Lions against Miami (Ohio) and tallied three kills and five blocks ... had five kills on five errorless swings against Buffalo (9/4) ... posted seven kills in nine attempts at Michigan State (10/17) ... went four for seven with eight blocks at Purdue (11/20)
2008 (Sophomore at Western Nebraska CC): Named Most Valuable Player Region IX ... helped guide WNCC to third place in the national tournament and a 59-4 overall record ... garnered First Team All-America honors ... named Female Athlete of the Year at WNCC ... selected as Midlands Female College Athlete of the Year for Nebraska by the Omaha World Herald ... led the team with 632 kills and .466 hitting percentage ... had 227 total blocks, good enough for fifth on the single single ledger ... set the school record in blocks with 437 career blocks ... finished her career with a,1045 kills to be one of only eight players in school history to amass more than 1,000 kills.
2007 (Freshman at Western Nebraska CC): Named Freshman of the Year Region IX ... helped WNCC win the NJCAA National Championship and a 59-2 overall record ... Earned All-America Honorable Mention distinction ... recorded 413 kills, and 210 blocks.
Venezuela
Began playing volleyball at the age of 12 with the Kuchitas Volleyball Team in her hometown of Merida, Venezuela ... began training with the Venezuelan National Team in 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela ... was a member of the national from from January 2003-June 2007 ... captained the U16 National Team in 2004 ... captained the Junior National Team in 2006.
Personal
Born Fatima Noheli Balza Alvarado on April 1, 1988 in Merida, Venezuela ... parents are Argimiro Balza and Zonia Alvarado de Balza ... has one sister, Astrid (22) and one brother, Arturo (16) ... plans on majoring in Communication Arts and Sciences ... names listening to music, watching TV and surfing the internet as hobbies, 'The Me Nobody Knew' by Shannon McLinden as favorite book, The Pussycat Dolls as favorite entertainer, 'Friends' as favorite television show, 'The Green Mile' as favorite movie, Giba (Gilberto Amaury de Godoy Filho) as favorite athlete, Johnny Depp and Jim Carrey as favorite actors, steak, chicken and arepa as favorite foods and Cameron Diaz and Angelina Jolie as favorite actresses.
Quoting Russ Rose
'I thought Fatima hit the ground running last year and did a great job in a tough situation playing with new people and veteran, demanding teammates. I thought she did more than an admirable job. This year she[apos]ll have to be more of an offensive player, continue her good blocking and seeing if she can make some contributions in other areas. She[apos]s a mature and experienced player and we[apos]ll have to depend on that more this year with the youth around her.'
Balza[apos]s Expectations
'My goal for this year is to give everything I have. I want to be focused in every practice, give my best every day on and off the court, work hard at every practice and help my teammates. It is going to be my last year playing for Penn State and I want this year to be the best. Winning a national title has been one of the best experiences of my life and I want to repeat it.'