High School Sports

Philipsburg-Osceola’s Reese Hazelton named Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year for PA

After leading her team to a 26-0 record and the Class 2A state championship, outside hitter Reese Hazelton from Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School has earned a prestigious honor.

Hazelton was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Pennsylvania Volleyball Player of the Year on Monday. The award signifies the state’s top volleyball player based on on-the-court play, as well as standing out in school and in the community.

Every year, Gatorade’s athletic award program recognizes winners in a variety of sports in all 50 states and national winners for each sport. Each winner receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner; Gatorade Player of the Year winners have donated over $4.9 million across more than 1,600 organizations.

Over the 2023 season, Hazelton, who’s also a four-time Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-State selection, totaled 692 kills, 385 digs, 63 aces and 40 assists.

In the state final against Trinity High, she put together a 40-kill, 23-dig performance to claim a 3-1 win.

Off the court, Hazelton is a member of the YMCA of Centre County, where she volunteers as a Mountie Mentor and assists first-year high school students.

Hazelton is the first player from Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School to be chosen for Gatorade’s state volleyball award.

She’s currently committed to playing volleyball at Indiana University beginning in fall 2024.

Philipsburg-Osceola’s Reese Hazelton celebrates a point during the PIAA Class 2A state championship in November at Cumberland Valley in Mechanicsburg. Hazelton was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Volleyball Player of the Year.
Philipsburg-Osceola’s Reese Hazelton celebrates a point during the PIAA Class 2A state championship in November at Cumberland Valley in Mechanicsburg. Hazelton was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Volleyball Player of the Year. Pat Little For the CDT
Daniel Mader
Centre Daily Times
Daniel Mader is an intern with the Centre Daily Times’ sports newsroom. As a current senior and journalism major at Penn State University, he’s pursuing a career in sports beat writing. Prior to his internship with the Centre Daily Times, he’s contributed to The Daily Collegian, NBC Sports and LancasterOnline.
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