Papa signs with NCAA DI Missouri State University

After being decorated as one of the best setters in Cowley and NJCAA history and leading her team to their third national championship, sophomore Rossana Papa signed a letter of intent to continue her education and volleyball career at NCAA DI Missouri State University.

Cowley volleyball head coach Steven Gream recruited Papa out of Italy to come to Cowley. Papa came to Cowley in 2021 and helped lead the program to a national runner-up finish. Then, in 2022, she had a season-ending injury only to bounce back in 2023 to lead her team to its third national championship in program history.

"We had just gotten back from the Covid season and needed a quality setter to lead our program in 2021. We reached out to a former player in Italy who recommended Rossana and another Italian hitter for our 2021 roster. We watched her film and immediately began contact with her and the recruiting process. She had all the aspects that we looked for in a setter and more with skills that you simply can't teach with her natural ability. We offered her on the spot and were fortunate to have her become a Cowley Tiger. Coming to Cowley, she adjusted to our way of playing, which was much faster and different than she was used to in Italy. Rossana got a tough break with a season-ending injury but handled it well by studying the game and rehabbing to get back better than ever. In 2023, she came back into action with a force and was determined to lead her team back to the national championship. She gained the respect of her teammates, who followed her leadership as a captain and leader on the court. Rossana not only achieved her goal of leading her team to a national championship, she also was named NJCAA DII Player of the Year and given numerous other honors. Her bounce back was such an inspiration to us coaches, her teammates, and the community. Missouri State is getting a great volleyball player who is a great leader and works each day to improve her game and compete at a high level."

Papa was named NJCAA DII Player of the Year, NJCAA Player of the Tournament, NJCAA First Team All-American twice, AVCA First Team All-American, AVCA Second Team All-American, Volleyballmag.com All-American, Plains A District First Team All-District twice, KJCCC First Team All-Conference twice, KJCCC Most Valuable Player, KJCCC Setter of the Year twice, and KJCCC Setter of the week multiple times. She also got the great experience of leading and competing to win a national championship. In her Cowley career, she only lost one match, which was the national championship match in 2021. Her career record at Cowley is 82-1.

For her career at Cowley, Papa recorded 3,075 career kills (second all-time in Cowley history) at 11.96 assists per set, 180 service aces (all-time Cowley leader), and 565 digs. She helped the Lady Tigers to an undefeated season by winning 41 matches in a row during the 2023 season and winning the program's third national championship.

"Cowley, for me, is a second home. What makes this place special are the people," Papa said. "The people at Cowley and the community are always ready to help you anytime, and they give you so much love. Cowley's community is amazing and very supportive. I have never known people so kind and genuine like here at Cowley. Coming here was one of the best decisions I have ever made."