Pitt's Olivia Babcock repeats as AVCA National Player of the Year

[ASFN Admin]

Pittsburgh Panthers opposite hitter Olivia Babcock has been named the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year.

Babcock is just the fifth player ever to win the National Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. After becoming Pitt's first player to win the award in 2024, she has successfully retained her title. The Pitt opposite hitter recently earned her third consecutive selection to the 2025 AVCA first-team All-American team and a second nod for AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year.

This season, Babcock averaged career highs in kills per set (5.1) and digs per set (2.1). She also broke Pitt's single-match kills record for the second time in her career with 45 kills against North Carolina in November. Her 40-plus kills were the most by any volleyball player this season and the highest since 2019, when Cincinnati's Jordan Thompson landed 50 kills against UConn.

Here's a list of the other finalists who were up for the AVCA National Player of the Year but did not win:

2025 AVCA Player of the Year finalists​

• Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin, Sr.: The 6-3 outside hitter has 20 or more kills in 14 matches this season, including 23 kills vs. No. 1 Texas in the Elite Eight, 27 kills vs. No. 2 Stanford in the Round of 16 and 32 kills against No.1 Kentucky in the Final Four semifinal. She averages 5.39 kills per set and 5.97 points per set. Two Wisconsin players -- Dana Rettke (2021) and Sarah Franklin (2023) -- have previously won the award.
• Eva Hudson, Kentucky, Sr.: The 6-1 outside hitter was named the SEC Player of the Year after hitting .317 with 4.54 kills per set and 504 total kills on the year. She leads Kentucky's offense, which is hitting .295 this year.
• Bergen Reilly, Nebraska, Jr.: The 6-1 junior setter was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Setter of the Year after averaging 10.47 assists and 2.70 digs per set. She totaled 73 kills, 67 blocks and 19 aces this season.

Former AVCA Players of the Year​

• 1985: Kim Oden, Stanford
• 1986: Mariliisa Salmi, Brigham Young
• 1987: Tonya Sanders-Williams, Hawaii
• 1988: Tara Cross, Long Beach State
• 1989: Tara Cross, Long Beach State; Tonya Sanders-Williams, Hawaii
• 1990: Bev Oden; Stanford
• 1991: Antoinette White; Long Beach State
• 1992: Natalie Williams, UCLA
• 1993: Danielle Scott; Long Beach State
• 1994: Laura Davis, Ohio State
• 1995: Cary Wendell, Stanford; Allison Weston, Nebraska
• 1996: Angelica Ljungqvist, Hawaii
• 1997: Misty May, Long Beach State
• 1998: Misty May, Long Beach State
• 1999: Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State; Kerri Walsh, Stanford
• 2000: Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
• 2001: Logan Tom, Stanford
• 2002: Logan Tom, Stanford
• 2003: Kim Willoughby, Hawaii
• 2004: Stacey Gordon, Ohio State; Ogonna Nnamani, Stanford
• 2005: Christina Houghtelling, Nebraska
• 2006: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
• 2007: Foluke Akinradewo, Stanford
• 2008: Nicole Fawcett, Penn State
• 2009: Megan Hodge, Penn State
• 2010: Carli Lloyd, Cal
• 2011: Alex Jupiter, Southern California
• 2012: Alaina Bergsma, Oregon
• 2013: Krista Vansant, Washington
• 2014: Micha Hancock, Penn State
• 2015: Samantha Bricio, Southern California
• 2016: Sarah Wilhite, Minnesota
• 2017: Kathryn Plummer, Stanford
• 2018: Kathryn Plummer, Stanford
• 2019: Yossiana Pressley, Baylor
• 2021 (spring): Madison Lilley, Kentucky
• 2021 (fall): Dana Rettke, Wisconsin
• 2022: Logan Eggleston, Texas
• 2023: Sarah Franklin, Wisconsin
• 2024: Olivia Babcock, Pitt

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pitt's Olivia Babcock wins 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year

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