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

Daniel Mader
·1 min read

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.