Still donning her C-fed labeled headband to honor her late mother, 2014 alumni Kate Federico is playing as a Tiger but at Clemson University. After playing for the Varsity team for three years at North, Federico is the starting setter for the Clemson Tigers and has been since her freshman year.

She started out strong her freshman year after having the second most assists by a freshman in school history with 1,179 assists.

“I hope to break more school records, become on another ACC team and the ACC academic team and hopefully after college become a grad assistant, then potentially coach at the high school level,” said Federico.

While at PNHS, she was named the Conference MVP her junior and senior year after transferring to North her sophomore year. Along with these accolades, Federico had 1,090 assists which is a school record for most assists in a season, 183 digs, and 116 kills her senior season. She was also named the team captain in 2013 and earned an honorable mention on the all-state team in 2012.

“In high school, the practices were easier and so was the school work. [Currently], it is tough to balance school work, practice, traveling and even social life in college. But everyone is capable of doing it, it is such a great experience,” said Federico over the difference from high school to college volleyball.

Her freshman year at Clemson, she set career highs with 56 assists in a game and seven kills. She had a 9.84 assist per set which ranked her fifth in the ACC among setters.

In her first season, she was named on the 2014 ACC All-freshman team and earned the honor of ACC freshman of the week once last year.

She still stays in contact with plenty of her former teammates and coaches from Plainfield North.

“I stay in contact with a lot of my old teammates,” said Federico.” I love hearing about their success and how they’re doing in life.

The Tigers are currently 5-15 with a 0-6 record in Conference play with a 5-7 record out of conference. Federico has 563 assists in 20 games with an 8.66 assist per set number.