After a long and successful season, USCAA Volleyball recognized three Bay Path University players for their remarkable athletic performance with participation on the 10-member 2024 First Team All-Americans. Of the ten, three Bay Path students - Asja Kazic, Shanayah St Phard, and Anastasiya Tsetsko - were included. The three student-athletes deserve this extreme honor as they represent the Bay Path volleyball team with their skill and leadership.
During Asja Kazic's first year, she put up excellent numbers and established herself as a valuable hitter. Since then, Kazic has continued to improve both offensively and defensively, recording more kills, digs, and blocks than in her freshman season. This year, she tallied 165 kills, which places her second on the team and twelfth in the association. Kazic was also a standout defensive player for the Wildcats, with 55 digs and 46 blocks. She finished sixth in the association for blocks thanks to her strong defensive efforts. Kazic is more than deserving of her spot on the USCAA All-American team. As demonstrated, Asja possesses exceptional talent and continues to improve each year. It's only fair to predict that she will achieve even greater success during her junior season.
Shanayah St Phard had big shoes to fill after Zyiasia Knighton graduated. Knighton was a prominent passer for the Wildcats throughout her volleyball career at Bay Path. However, St Phard exceeded expectations, earning a spot on the USCAA's 2024 All-American First Team. If you ever attended a Bay Path volleyball game this semester, you could always find Shanayah on the ground, selflessly throwing herself around to keep the ball from dropping. Her energy and passion for the game have positively impacted Bay Path this season, as she was a key contributor to the Wildcats' historic performance. St Phard concluded her season with a team-high 328 digs and an average of 3.21 digs per set, ranking second in the association for recorded digs in the 2024 season. She also contributed 27 aces, placing fifth on the team for total aces. In addition, Shanayah provided 49 assists when setters Betancourt and Santiago needed help getting to the ball. Fortunately, Shanayah is only a sophomore, leaving her with two more years of eligibility. We're excited to watch her compete next season.
It's no surprise that Anastasiya Tsetsko returns to the All-American team as the 2022 and 2023 Player of the Year. 2024 marks her third consecutive season on the All-American First Team. Tsetsko is the definition of consistency, as she led the team in kills per set with 3.81. In addition, Anastasiya led the team in total kills (297) by a significant margin. Her performance earned first place in the USCAA for total kills and second place for kills per set. As if leading the USCAA in kills wasn't enough, Tsetsko also topped the association in aces with 63. Lastly, she recorded 27 blocks in just 18 games. Anastasiya Tsetsko is a player like no other, and arguably one of the greatest hitters Bay Path has ever seen. With one season remaining, her teammates, coaching staff, and fans eagerly anticipate how she will finish her career as a Wildcat.
With Kazic, St Phard, and Tsetsko returning to the 2025 season, the Wildcats are in good hands as Kibbe and Burkovskiy unfortunately exit the program. The Bay Path community congratulates the three student-athletes for their efforts this season.
