BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Milan Bayless and Tiana Owens, key outside hitters for the Raiders, were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Volleyball Team.
Colgate was voted to finish second in the preseason poll with one first-place vote, while the reigning Patriot League champion, American, was selected to finish first with eight votes.
"Being picked second shows that our program has earned some great respect, but preseason rankings don't carry much weight once the season starts," said head coach Ryan Baker. "We are motivated to improve on a daily basis and work to achieve our end of the season goals."
The Raiders concluded their season at 18-10, going 13-3 in conference play. Colgate went 12-0 to start conference play in 2025, marking the first time in program history the team went unbeaten to start league play. Notable nonconference wins included Big Ten opponent Washington and neighboring Syracuse in back-to-back sweeps.
"This is a great reflection of the work Milan and Tiana put in last season and the expectations our peers have of them going into this season," said Baker. "They've earned this recognition, but we're excited to improve and use it as motivation."
Bayless, a rising senior, and Owens, a rising junior, were both selected to the Preseason All-League Team. Of the three outside hitters recognized, Bayless and Owens claimed two of those spots.
Bayless earned honors and awards on multiple occasions for her performance in 2025. She started the season as the League Preseason Player of the Year. Bayless earned two Player of the Week honors from the league, in addition to a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team and the League's All-Tournament Team. Bayless appeared in 28 matches with 110 sets played. She led the team in kills with a career-best 441, including 21 service aces. She has amassed 981 kills, 19 away from eclipsing the 1,000 mark. Defensively, Bayless contributed 191 digs, 12 solo blocks and 67 block assists.
Owens, a key component of the Raiders' offense, had a breakout 2025 season for Colgate. She earned All-Patriot League First Team honors for her offensive prowess. The California native played in 25 matches, appearing in 96 sets. Owens totaled 300 kills, placing second on the team and seventh in conference play. She also contributed 22 service aces, one solo block and 25 block assists for a total of 335.5 points.
Colgate will travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in its season opener at the Tennessee Tournament. The Raiders are slated to compete against the No. 22 Lady Vols on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.
2026 Patriot League Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. American, 64 (8 first-place votes)
2. Colgate, 57 (1 first-place vote)
3. Army West Point, 45
4. Lehigh, 39
5. Navy, 38
6. Bucknell, 36
7. Holy Cross, 17
8. Loyola Maryland, 14
9. Lafayette, 13
2026 Patriot League Preseason Women's Volleyball Major Awards
Player & Setter of the Year – Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., S
Defensive Player of the Year – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Volleyball Team
Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., S
Sophie Dufour, American, So., OH
Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
Elise Sterling, American, So., MB
Prinzez Zeck, American, Sr., MB
Juliette Myrick, Army West Point, Sr., S
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Sr., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Sr., OH
Tiana Owens, Colgate, Jr., OH
Alysia Fingall, Lehigh, Sr., RS
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Sr., RS
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