UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- With a new regimen of coaching with new head coach Carolyn Kieger, the 2019-20 Penn State Lady Lions are looking to return to a level of success that will bring them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
One of the first steps in achieving that goal is finding a leader amongst the players that can help make the team be the best it can possibly be. With five freshmen and six players in total new to the program, finding that voice early is key. This year, senior guard Siyeh Fraizer is slated for that role.
"When I mess up or make a mistake, [Siyeh] has grabbed me and said, 'Come on Makenna, you got it, we're going to need you,'" said backcourt mate, Makenna Marisa. "She's really kept my head up whenever I've been down on myself. She's been really great and she's the leader that everyone loves."
Star guards Teniya Page and Amari Carter were widely viewed as the team leaders last season. Page led by example and Carter was the vocal leader, but as of right now, Frazier appears to be taking over both roles. When asked about what actions she has taken in attempt to become a better leader, she provided two points of emphasis in her approach.
One for the newcomers.
"The most important part is just understanding their style and how they learn best, and being able to communicate best [with them]".
And one for the team as a whole.
"Just being the first follower to what coach has planned for us and picking it up as fast as I can and being able to relay the message to my teammates."
Quite possibly one of the most telling quotes about how Frazier has stepped into a leadership role came from Marisa, a freshman, who is primed to enter the same role in the future.
"Siyeh has been like a big sister to me so far," she said. "It's been great so far, [she] has been super supportive."
Frazier stepping into this role should be no surprise to followers of the team. She was one of the best players on roster a year ago when she placed top five on the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game. She finished second on the squad at 9.9 points per game, and started all 30 games for Penn State. On the defensive end she was 11th in the conference at 1.6 steals per game.
Even with Frazier's recent success, Kieger has noted her work ethic to become even better in all aspects of the game, both on and off the court.
"[Frazier] had a phenomenal summer. She stayed both summer sessions and she worked extremely hard on her game," Kieger said. "She looks like a brand-new player. She's leading, she's scoring, she's defending and I'm really excited for her to have a phenomenal senior season."
Despite the improvement on her game between the lines, Frazier says she is improving most elsewhere.
"I think my main growth spurts have been in just leading and communicating to my team."
Frazier seems comfortable in her role, her teammates seem comfortable with her role, and her coach does as well. It appears to be a recipe for success, but at the very least, finding a new voice on a young team is one major roadblock out of the way that should help the group mesh and provide a winning product moving forward.
