Pitt’s Olivia Babcock Aims for Historic Repeat as AVCA Player of the Year Finalist Announced

Pitt volleyball star Olivia Babcock is a finalist for the 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year award. The announcement was made by the American Volleyball Coaches Association this week. This places the Panthers’ outside hitter among the nation’s top four players.

Babcock won this prestigious award last season as a sophomore. She now has the chance to win it again in consecutive years. According to the official AVCA release, only four players in history have achieved that rare feat.

Babcock’s Stellar Case for a Second Trophy

The statistics make a compelling argument for Babcock. Her numbers this season are even better than her award-winning 2024 campaign. She has recorded a career-high 624 kills and a .330 hitting percentage.

She also ranks in the national top five for kills and points per set. Beyond the stats, Babcock has rewritten the Pitt record book. She now holds the program’s single-season and single-match kills records.

Her performance has been the engine for Pitt’s success. The team is heading to its fifth straight NCAA Final Four. Babcock’s dominance was clear during crucial winning streaks this season.

Leading the Panthers to a Championship Dream

The ultimate team goal now comes into focus. Pitt faces Texas A&M in the national semifinal on December 18th. The Panthers have never played for a national championship.

Babcock’s postseason form suggests she is ready for the moment. She has averaged nearly 20 kills per match during the NCAA tournament. Pitt has lost only one set in four tournament matches so far.

Her fellow finalists are elite company. They include Wisconsin’s Mimi Colyer and Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly. The winner will be announced at the AVCA All-America ceremony.

Olivia Babcock’s pursuit of a second straight AVCA Player of the Year award underscores a historic season. Her record-breaking play has Pitt on the cusp of its first national title game. The final decision now rests with the voters.

Info at your fingertips

Who are the other AVCA Player of the Year finalists?

The other three finalists are Mimi Colyer of Wisconsin, Eva Hudson of Kentucky, and Bergen Reilly of Nebraska. All four players led their teams to the NCAA Tournament’s latter stages.

How many players have won the award twice?

Only four players have won the AVCA National Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons. Babcock is attempting to become the fifth member of this exclusive group.

What records has Olivia Babcock broken this season?

Babcock now holds Pitt’s single-season (624) and single-match (45) kills records. She also entered the program’s 1,000 career kills club and set a new personal best for kills per set.

When is the AVCA award winner announced?

The winner will be announced during the AVCA All-America ceremony. This event is held in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four in Tampa, Florida.