First-year Tiana Owens has made a big impact with the Raiders.

When the Raiders picked up victories over two conference opponents in Loyola and Bucknell in early October, one huge factor for the weekend sweep was the rise of first-year right-side hitter Tiana Owens ’28. 

Owens, who hails from El Cajon, Calif., a city near San Diego, led the team with a combined 25 kills in the two matches. In the win against the Bison, she amassed 13 kills and five block assists, leading Colgate to a huge win over one of the top teams in the Patriot League. 

For her efforts, she was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week, her first such honor. 

The team was having a water break during a practice when head coach Ryan Baker announced that Owens was selected for the award. 

The news was a surprise to Owens. She was so focused on practice and preparing for the next opponent on the schedule she forgot that collegiate athletes could be recognized for their performance. 

It also didn’t occur to her right away the significance of such a recognition. 

“When I step on the court, I don’t think about awards,” she said. “I’m just focused on trying to be me as a player and performing well. After talking to other people — like family and teammates — I realized it was a big thing that I should be happy for. I’m very grateful for it.”

After a successful volleyball career in high school, which included winning a state title and playing for a top club team, Owens made the leap from Southern California to Hamilton, N.Y., a place that was dramatically different from home. 

When she began the search for a college, she was drawn to the East Coast, wishing to leave home in favor of a new and unfamiliar place. 

Prior to her visits to the Colgate campus during her recruitment process, she had never before set foot in the Northeast. She had never before set foot in New York. 

While in high school, she was teammates with Milan Bayless ’27 for three seasons. Bayless, who was a year older, committed to Colgate, and went on to have a breakout season of her own as a first-year outside hitter in 2023. 

Owens learned about Colgate through Bayless. While the two stayed in touch, Owens followed her career at Colgate and began learning more about the University. 

The program’s success, which includes three consecutive Patriot League titles, was a major draw. In addition, Colgate’s demanding liberal arts program was another bonus. Owens said she wanted a college that would push her academically. 

And then there was the prospect of playing alongside Bayless once again. 

“When I came to Colgate for a visit, I enjoyed the school and what the academics and athletics had to offer,” she said. “I finished my visits at other schools and came to the decision that Colgate was the place for me. Knowing someone on the team was a big factor.”

“She’s such a fun athlete to watch,” Owens said of Bayless. “I’ve always looked up to her in a way, in a bigger sister role. She’s a year older than me and we went to high school together and now we’re in college together. She’s someone I will go to if I ever need any help.”

Tiana Owens is off to a promising start to her career as a Raider.

When Owens moved to Hamilton in late July, adjusting to a new environment was nerve-wracking at first. But she quickly established a bond with the other first-years on the team, which made her adjustment smoother. And her veteran teammates, Bayless included, made all the newcomers feel welcomed. 

It wasn’t too long before Colgate Volleyball felt like one large family, Owens said.

“My transition to Colgate has been good,” she said. “Obviously, the weather is different. Other than that, it has gone pretty well because I have the team to help me.”

Off the volleyball court, Owens has adjusted to a college schedule and is focused on excelling in her courses. While she has yet to declare a major, she’s exploring her options. 

So far, the most impressive part about studying at Colgate has been the professors, she said.

“A lot of the professors, you can tell that they enjoy their jobs,” she said. “They enjoy what they are teaching. They are very passionate about that. I think that is such a valuable thing.”

As she adjusted to college life, she has also worked closely with her volleyball coaches to refine her skills. She works with Baker, her head coach, on weekly and monthly goals, which include things like improving her blocking and hitting certain corners on the court. 

She and Baker have also focused on improving her confidence, which has been one of her biggest challenges. 

“That’s the big thing that Coach Baker and I are working on this season,” she said. “There’s no reason for me not to have confidence, is what he tells me. I should step into a room and have that confidence in me. I should continue to have confidence when I step on the court or in practice.”

Her confidence was high going into the weekend of Oct. 11, when she emerged as a major weapon for the Raiders and earned her first conference award.

By that point, she had also evolved by leaps and bounds since the first match of the season on Aug. 30. 

“I think I have definitely grown in certain areas of my play,” she said. “I have become louder on the court vocally. My confidence has been a lot more consistent, which allows me to play freely. Skillswise, I have definitely improved in many areas, like hitting, blocking, and passing. I’m happy to be in a program that works on my development to get me to where I want to be.”

Owens praised her head coach for pushing everyone in maroon-and-white to be better.

“Playing for Coach Baker is fun,” she said. “He really wants the best for all the girls on his team. He wants to push the program and is always there for us.”

Baker lauded Owens for the strong start to her Colgate career, and said the first-year has a bright future. He said her experience playing high-level volleyball in high school and club allowed her to be ready early in her Colgate career.

“While I'm pleased with her start, I feel that her growth after a spring and summer of weight training will turn her into an even better player which most excites me,” Baker said.

Baker said he knew during the recruiting process Owens was going to be a good fit for his program. 

“She's athletic, intelligent, and never shies away from big moments,” he said. “There is a maturity to her game and her ability to process coaching is pretty special. She's able to fix things very quickly. As her confidence grows and she continues to learn and get stronger, who knows how good she can get. I see massive amounts of upside in her. If Tiana decides to do what it takes to be great, then I don't think there's any stopping her.”

Colgate Volleyball began the season with perhaps its toughest non-conference schedule to date. The Raiders have battled through programs like Duke, Kansas, UConn, and Villanova before the start of Patriot League play. 

Owens said the non-conference schedule has helped prepare the Raiders for the Patriot League by putting the team in tough situations. 

Now, with a few weeks left in the regular season, Colgate is in a battle with two other teams for first place. Every match is crucial. Who takes home the regular season crown might not be determined until the final week. 

For Owens, it has been a thrilling—and educational—ride. 

“It has been a great experience, very fun,” she said. “I’m enjoying myself going through it, trying to soak it all up."