Photo by: Anais Moua
Hipp Named American Setter of the Year; Hanson Tabbed Freshman of the Year
11/20/2025 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Maegan Mills Also Listed to All-Freshman Team
IRVING, Texas — The Tulsa volleyball team put the American Conference on notice this year, thanks in part to three standout players who performed consistently well week in and week out. Senior Brayden Hipp was chosen as the league's Setter of the Year, and middle blocker Jill Hanson was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Both players received First Team All-Conference honors, while Hanson and outside hitter Maegan Mills were voted to the All-Freshman Team, for which Hanson was a unanimous choice.
It's the first time since 2019 Tulsa's fielded two major end-of-the-year awards in the same year and the sixth time overall that's happened. Hanson and Hipp are the 55th and 56th All-Conference players in team history, while Hanson and Mills make up the ninth and 10th All-Freshman honorees.
Hipp is the program's fourth overall Setter of the Year and the first Tulsa player to receive American Setter of the Year honors. A native of Fort Myers, Fla., Hipp ended the regular season ranked third in conference play for assists per set (10.23) while leading all setters with 3.47 digs pet, which is the ninth best overall mark when adding liberos and defensive specialists to the mix.
Hipp also led the league with five Setter of the Week Awards and finished with 15 double-doubles. She helped push Tulsa to a .257 hitting percentage and was the only player in the American to reach 60 assists in a single match. Hipp also attacked the ball well, earning 61 setter dump kills on a .324 hitting percentage. Finally, she finished fifth on the team with 27 blocks.
"Brayden Hipp's Setter of the Year and First-Team honor are outstanding achievements," Head Coach Lauren Ramatowski said. "I have been tremendously proud of her development over the past four years. She is highly deserving of this recognition. Her volleyball IQ, paired with her intensity and competitiveness, has elevated our offense and played a pivotal role in our team's success this year."
Hanson is the team's third Freshman of the Year ever, joining Dilara Gedikoglu in 2019 and TU Hall of Famer Tyler Henderson in 2009. From San Antonio, Texas, Hanson earned an immediate starting role and did not disappoint, leading all freshmen in the nation with a .404 hitting percentage and ranking 23rd overall amongst all NCAA Division I players.
Hanson led the American this year with a .416 hitting percentage in conference play resulting from 147 kills on 267 total swings with only 36 errors. She hit over .500 in 12 different matches this year and took home the final two Freshman of the Week awards after leading TU to four straight wins to conclude the regular season.
In addition to her efficient hitting, Hanson finished as the leading blocker for the Golden Hurricane, earning 1.21 blocks per set and 69 total blocks, good for third in the conference. Her scoring versatility allowed her to finish the season as Tulsa's second-highest scorer at 292 points for an average of 2.98 per set.
"Jill being named Freshman of the Year and earning a place on First Team is an exceptional accomplishment," said Ramatowski. "She has been a consistent and dominant presence in her position throughout the season. Her physicality and power are remarkable, but what truly distinguishes her is her humility and her daily commitment to improving for the betterment of our team."
Mills averaged 2.64 points and 2.10 kills per set this season. She had break out showings in the series sweep over Wichita State, earning a team season-high 20 kills on the Shockers' home court on October 3. She was a mainstay on the Tulsa offense ever since.
"I am extremely proud of our players and the recognition they have earned," continued Ramatowski. "Maegan's selection to the All-Freshman Team is well deserved. She is one of the most powerful outsides in our conference, and I am confident she will continue to elevate her volleyball IQ and decision-making as she develops."
Mills' 4.29 kills per set through both wins over the Shockers earned her a Freshman of the Week award on October 6.
"While these individual honors are significant and well earned, our team remains focused on our broader mission of pursuing a conference championship. We will continue to work with commitment, love, and excellence on behalf of this program," Ramatowski concluded.
Tulsa is slated to take on No. 6 seed Florida Atlantic in the American Championship First Round on Friday, November 21, at 6:30 Central. The winner will move on the semifinal to take on the victor between No. 7 Charlotte and the hosting and second-seeded South Florida Bulls.
Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
Libero of the Year
Annika Thompson, Sr., L, Charlotte
Setter of the Year
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year
Jill Hanson, Fr., MB, Tulsa
Coach of the Year
Genny Volpe, Rice
First Team All-Conference
Jorda Crook, Jr., OPP, UAB
Kristen Birmingham, Sr., OH, Charlotte
Jessica Ricks, Gr., OPP, Charlotte
Annika Thompson, Sr., L, Charlotte
Kaia Mateo, Jr., S, Rice
Taylor Preston, Sr., OH, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
Raegan Richardson, So., S, South Florida
Avery Burks, Jr., OH, Tulane
Jill Hanson, Fr., MB, Tulsa
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Brooklyn Leggett, R-Sr., RS, Wichita State
Second Team All-Conference
Olivia Hart, So., OH, Florida Atlantic
Loredana Fouonji, Jr., MB, North Texas
Gaby Mansfield, Sr., L, Rice
Lademi Ogunlana, Sr., MB, Rice
Arissa Smith, Jr., OH, Rice
Laila Ivey, Jr., OH, South Florida
Christiana Greene, So., OH, Temple
Sydney Dunning, Jr., OH, Wichita State
All-Freshman Team
Emsley Venard, S, Florida Atlantic
Zaniah Hoskins, OH, Memphis
Dakota Mitchell, L, North Texas
Aaliyah Smith, OH, Rice*
Giada Obregon, DS, UTSA
Jill Hanson, MB, Tulsa*
Maegan Mills, OH, Tulsa
*denotes unanimous selection
Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the volleyball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.
IRVING, Texas — The Tulsa volleyball team put the American Conference on notice this year, thanks in part to three standout players who performed consistently well week in and week out. Senior Brayden Hipp was chosen as the league's Setter of the Year, and middle blocker Jill Hanson was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Both players received First Team All-Conference honors, while Hanson and outside hitter Maegan Mills were voted to the All-Freshman Team, for which Hanson was a unanimous choice.
It's the first time since 2019 Tulsa's fielded two major end-of-the-year awards in the same year and the sixth time overall that's happened. Hanson and Hipp are the 55th and 56th All-Conference players in team history, while Hanson and Mills make up the ninth and 10th All-Freshman honorees.
Hipp is the program's fourth overall Setter of the Year and the first Tulsa player to receive American Setter of the Year honors. A native of Fort Myers, Fla., Hipp ended the regular season ranked third in conference play for assists per set (10.23) while leading all setters with 3.47 digs pet, which is the ninth best overall mark when adding liberos and defensive specialists to the mix.
Hipp also led the league with five Setter of the Week Awards and finished with 15 double-doubles. She helped push Tulsa to a .257 hitting percentage and was the only player in the American to reach 60 assists in a single match. Hipp also attacked the ball well, earning 61 setter dump kills on a .324 hitting percentage. Finally, she finished fifth on the team with 27 blocks.
"Brayden Hipp's Setter of the Year and First-Team honor are outstanding achievements," Head Coach Lauren Ramatowski said. "I have been tremendously proud of her development over the past four years. She is highly deserving of this recognition. Her volleyball IQ, paired with her intensity and competitiveness, has elevated our offense and played a pivotal role in our team's success this year."
Hanson is the team's third Freshman of the Year ever, joining Dilara Gedikoglu in 2019 and TU Hall of Famer Tyler Henderson in 2009. From San Antonio, Texas, Hanson earned an immediate starting role and did not disappoint, leading all freshmen in the nation with a .404 hitting percentage and ranking 23rd overall amongst all NCAA Division I players.
Hanson led the American this year with a .416 hitting percentage in conference play resulting from 147 kills on 267 total swings with only 36 errors. She hit over .500 in 12 different matches this year and took home the final two Freshman of the Week awards after leading TU to four straight wins to conclude the regular season.
In addition to her efficient hitting, Hanson finished as the leading blocker for the Golden Hurricane, earning 1.21 blocks per set and 69 total blocks, good for third in the conference. Her scoring versatility allowed her to finish the season as Tulsa's second-highest scorer at 292 points for an average of 2.98 per set.
"Jill being named Freshman of the Year and earning a place on First Team is an exceptional accomplishment," said Ramatowski. "She has been a consistent and dominant presence in her position throughout the season. Her physicality and power are remarkable, but what truly distinguishes her is her humility and her daily commitment to improving for the betterment of our team."
Mills averaged 2.64 points and 2.10 kills per set this season. She had break out showings in the series sweep over Wichita State, earning a team season-high 20 kills on the Shockers' home court on October 3. She was a mainstay on the Tulsa offense ever since.
"I am extremely proud of our players and the recognition they have earned," continued Ramatowski. "Maegan's selection to the All-Freshman Team is well deserved. She is one of the most powerful outsides in our conference, and I am confident she will continue to elevate her volleyball IQ and decision-making as she develops."
Mills' 4.29 kills per set through both wins over the Shockers earned her a Freshman of the Week award on October 6.
"While these individual honors are significant and well earned, our team remains focused on our broader mission of pursuing a conference championship. We will continue to work with commitment, love, and excellence on behalf of this program," Ramatowski concluded.
Tulsa is slated to take on No. 6 seed Florida Atlantic in the American Championship First Round on Friday, November 21, at 6:30 Central. The winner will move on the semifinal to take on the victor between No. 7 Charlotte and the hosting and second-seeded South Florida Bulls.
Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
Libero of the Year
Annika Thompson, Sr., L, Charlotte
Setter of the Year
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year
Jill Hanson, Fr., MB, Tulsa
Coach of the Year
Genny Volpe, Rice
First Team All-Conference
Jorda Crook, Jr., OPP, UAB
Kristen Birmingham, Sr., OH, Charlotte
Jessica Ricks, Gr., OPP, Charlotte
Annika Thompson, Sr., L, Charlotte
Kaia Mateo, Jr., S, Rice
Taylor Preston, Sr., OH, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
Raegan Richardson, So., S, South Florida
Avery Burks, Jr., OH, Tulane
Jill Hanson, Fr., MB, Tulsa
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Brooklyn Leggett, R-Sr., RS, Wichita State
Second Team All-Conference
Olivia Hart, So., OH, Florida Atlantic
Loredana Fouonji, Jr., MB, North Texas
Gaby Mansfield, Sr., L, Rice
Lademi Ogunlana, Sr., MB, Rice
Arissa Smith, Jr., OH, Rice
Laila Ivey, Jr., OH, South Florida
Christiana Greene, So., OH, Temple
Sydney Dunning, Jr., OH, Wichita State
All-Freshman Team
Emsley Venard, S, Florida Atlantic
Zaniah Hoskins, OH, Memphis
Dakota Mitchell, L, North Texas
Aaliyah Smith, OH, Rice*
Giada Obregon, DS, UTSA
Jill Hanson, MB, Tulsa*
Maegan Mills, OH, Tulsa
*denotes unanimous selection
Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the volleyball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballWomen's History Month - Celebrating Tyler Henderson
Friday, March 15
VB | Kayley Cassaday ESPN+ Halftime Feature
Friday, January 19
Tulsa vs Central Arkansas Recap
Monday, September 11
Tulsa vs UCA
Saturday, September 09