Central Pennsylvania girls volleyball fans were probably convinced of this a long time ago, but it was confirmed Jan. 8: Reese Hazelton was the best player in the state this past season.
The Philipsburg-Osceola outside hitter was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Pennsylvania Volleyball Player of the Year, capping a stunning Lady Mounties career.
And where was Hazelton when she got a text from her mom with news of the award just before 8 a.m.? She was not in Philipsburg, but in Bloomington, Indiana, about to sit down for her first college class as an Indiana University freshman.
“Just a wave of excitement came over me while I was sitting in class,” she said by phone later that day. “I’ve wanted this for so long. To finally be awarded this is absolutely amazing.”
The four-time Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All-State honoree helped lead the Lady Mounties to a 26-0 season, capped by a 3-1 win against Trinity (Camp Hill) for the PIAA Class 2A championship less than two months ago. A few weeks later she finished her course work to graduate early from P-O and move on to the Big Ten and the Hoosiers.
“The script couldn’t have ended any better than her helping our team to an undefeated season and state championship,” coach Dave Eckberg said. “There are only so many high schools that get to say that they have had an athlete win Gatorade Player of the Year. Philipsburg-Osceola now gets to celebrate being added to that list.”
The Gatorade Player of the Year awards began in 1985 and have been given in girls volleyball since 1995. They are now handed out in every state in 12 different sports. Hazelton is just the second Centre County athlete, in any sport, to pick up the honor, joining State College volleyball’s Taylor Leath in 2014-15. Hazelton will now be among 50 girls to be considered for the National Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter piled up a stunning 2,497 kills, 1,444 digs, 245 aces and 169 blocks during her four-year career at P-O. She had 692 kills, 385 digs, 63 aces and 50 blocks during the 2023 season.
Hazelton is the first known county volleyball player — male or female — to rack up over 2,000 kills. According to MaxPreps, her career kill total ranks 34th nationally all time in the rally-scoring era, and her 2023 season kill total ranked 25th in the nation and second in the state.
“All the hard work, all the dedication paid off,” she said. “It’s a great award to have … but there’s still work to be done and now I’ve got more goals that I want to achieve.”
She also found an impressive way to tie up the bow on those amazing numbers, with a career-high 46 kills, plus 23 digs and three blocks, in the PIAA championship match. The state title was the first for the P-O program, which had made at least the state semifinals each of the last four seasons.
Among the state’s past winners of the award are former U.S. Olympians Kim Glass and Christa Harmotto, the latter of whom was an All-American and NCAA champion at Penn State, and Hazelton gets her name next to them.
“I can’t process it yet,” Hazelton said. “It’s amazing and I’m so grateful for the support group around me. Everybody’s help made this possible.”
When she spoke from the Indiana campus, she had just finished her first practice and first weightlifting session with the team and would soon head to another class. Her life is very different from just a few weeks ago, and it was a first day as a college student she will never forget.
“I’m beyond excited,” she said. “I can’t put into words how happy and grateful I am to be here and be able to experience this.”
COACHING CHANGES
Eckberg has announced he is stepping down as P-O’s head coach. He informed the Lady Mounties of his decision during the first week of January. He has been at the program’s helm since 2010, guiding it to five District 6 titles, four state semifinal appearances, two trips to the state finals and the 2023 championship.
Eckberg, a counselor with the State College Area School District, cited the long days and long travel, with P-O now a part of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference that stretches from Centre County to Johnstown.
“I was able to pull it off this year, but it was exhausting,” said Eckberg, who did add he will not rule out returning to coaching down the road.
Also looking for new coaches are Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy with the departure of Cori Donaghy, and Bald Eagle Area, with Zach Rote stepping down after two seasons.
