BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Colgate claimed the top spot in the 2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll when it was announced by the League office on Wednesday.
The three-time defending Patriot League Champion Raiders earned 128 points and 16 first-place votes, with American in second place with 108 points and two first-place votes. Bucknell finished third, recording 95 points, Army West Point placed fourth with 86 points, followed by Navy (68) to round out the top five. Lehigh (57) and Loyola Maryland (57) tied for sixth, with Lafayette (33) and Holy Cross (16) completing the nine-team League field.
Colgate senior outside hitter Abby Shadwick earned 2024 Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year after being named to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2023. American senior setter Esma Sipahi received preseason setter of the year acclaim, while Bucknell senior libero Jordan Hardy was selected preseason libero of the year. Sipahi and Hardy claimed the League’s 2023 setter and libero of the year honors, respectively, in addition to receiving first-team All-League accolades.
Bucknell and Colgate led the way with two student-athletes on the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, while American, Lehigh and Loyola Maryland each had one honoree. Shadwick was accompanied by teammate Gillian Hauschild (Gr., RS), while Hardy was joined by teammate Sidney Shaffer (So., MB). American’s Sipahi, Lehigh senior outside hitter Megan Schulte and Loyola Maryland graduate student outside hitter Lauren Link rounded out the seven-member team.
All seven preseason All-League members were named to the 2023 Patriot League Volleyball first or second teams. Sipahi, Hardy, Shadwick, Hauschild, and Schulte collected first-team laurels, while Link and Shaffer earned second-team honors after the 2023 season.
The 2024 Patriot League women’s volleyball preseason honors were voted on by the volleyball coaches and sports information directors from each institution, with restrictions on voting for their team and student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Abby Shadwick, Colgate, Sr., OH, Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay
2023 Stats: 85 SP, 26 MP, 209 kills, .251 hitting pct., 19 assists, 14 service aces, 201 digs, 40.0 total blocks
*Shadwick is a two-time First-Team All-Patriot League and two-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree.
*The Lexington, Ky. native posted nine matches with double-digit kills to finish the season with 209 kills and 2.46 kills per set, helping lead the Raiders to their third straight Patriot League title.
*She recorded five double-doubles, including a 10-kill, 10-dig performance against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament.
*Shadwick has received Patriot League Player of the Week honors four times through her first three seasons.
2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Setter of the Year
Esma Sipahi, American, Sr., Setter, Istanbul, Turkey/TED Istanbul College
2023 Stats: 117 SP, 31 MP, 60 kills, .253 hitting pct., 1,189 assists, 10.16 assists/set, 42 service aces, 254 digs, 73.0 total blocks
*Sipahi claimed 2023 Patriot League Setter of the Year after leading the Patriot League in assists (1,189) and assists per set (10.16), finishing as the only League setter with more than 10.0 assists per set.
*She finished among the League leaders with 42 service aces, 254 digs and 73.0 total blocks.
*The Istanbul native recorded 11 double-doubles, and finished two blocks shy of a triple-double with a career-high eight blocks against Army West Point on Nov. 4.
2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Libero of the Year
Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Sr., Libero, Winter Park, Fla./Trinity Prep
2023 Stats: 97 SP, 26 MP, 99 assists, 24 service aces, 537 digs, 5.54 digs per set
*Hardy captured 2023 Patriot League Libero of the Year and first-team All-League honors after finishing with a League-high 537 digs and 5.54 digs per set.
*The Winter Park, Fla. native finished seventh in NCAA DI in digs per set (5.54) while leading the Bison defense to rank third in the nation with 17.84 digs per set.
*She enters the 2024 season, second in Bucknell history with 1,511 digs, ranking just outside the Patriot League’s career top 10.
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Volleyball by the Numbers (2023 Stats)
Bucknell and Colgate lead the way with two student-athletes apiece on the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, as the Bison’s Hardy was joined by teammate Sid Shaffer (So., MB) and the Raiders’ Shadwick was accompanied by teammate Gillian Hauschild (5th., RS). American, Lehigh and Loyola Maryland had one honoree apiece with Sipahi, Megan Schulte (Sr., OH) and Lauren Link (Gr., OH) rounding out the seven-member team.
All seven preseason All-League members were named to the 2023 Patriot League Volleyball First or Second Teams. Sipahi, Hardy, Shadwick, Hauschild, and Schulte collected first-team laurels, while Link and Shaffer earned second-team honors after the 2023 season.
2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 128 points (16 first-place votes)
2. American, 108 (2)
3. Bucknell, 95
4. Army West Point, 86
5. Navy, 68
T6. Lehigh 57
T6. Loyola Maryland 57
8. Lafayette, 33
9. Holy Cross, 16
2024 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Major Awards
Player of the Year – Abby Shadwick, Colgate, Sr., OH
Setter of the Year – Esma Sipahi, American, Sr., S
Libero of the Year – Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Sr., L
2024 Women’s Volleyball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Esma Sipahi, American, Sr., S
Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Sr., L
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, So., MB
Abby Shadwick, Colgate, Sr., OH
Gillian Hauschild, Colgate, 5th., RS
Megan Schulte, Lehigh, Sr., OH
Lauren Link, Loyola Maryland, Gr., OH
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.