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16 Players Added to AVCA Player of the Year Award Watch List

These players join the 30 athletes previously named to the Preseason Watch List, which was revealed in July. 
Nicole Reitz|
Blaire Bayless is in the midst of her best collegiate season yet.
Blaire Bayless is in the midst of her best collegiate season yet. | Pitt Athletics

After nearly six weeks of college volleyball, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has added 16 players to the Watch List for its 2026 Division I Player of the Year Award. These players join the 30 athletes previously named to the Preseason Watch List, which was revealed in July. 

The list was put together by the  AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee, and those coaches will be working throughout the season to name an official Player of the Year by December. 

Player of the Year Timeline 

  • Semifinalists- November
  • Finalists- estimated Dec. 14
  • Player of the Year reveal in San Antonio at the AVCA Awards Banquet- Dec.18

2026 Player of the Year Award Watch List Additions

  • Una Vajagic, Arizona State, Outside Hitter 
  • Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor, Outside Hitter 
  • Taylor Parks, Florida, Setter 
  • Alec Rothe, Florida, Middle Blocker
  • Taylor Stanley, Kansas, Outside Hitter 
  • Jurnee Robinson, LSU, Outside Hitter 
  • Payton Petersen, Louisville, Libero
  • Stella Swenson, Minnesota, Setter 
  • Mckenna Wucherer, Minnesota, Outside Hitter
  • Manaia Ogbechie, Nebraska, Middle Blocker 
  • Blaire Bayless, Pitt, Outside Hitter
  • Sylvie Zgonc, South Dakota State, Outside Hitter
  • Caroline Kerr, Tennessee, Setter 
  • Kennedi Rogers, Tennessee, Outside Hitter
  • Jalyn Stout, Tennessee, Setter 
  • Becca Kelley, TCU, Outside Hitter

Florida Gators

With no other players on the Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List that was announced in July, Taylor Parks and Alec Rothe have represented the Gators well. 

Parks is hitting .291, the second-best currently in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA. She also currently ranks in the top 100 nationally in multiple categories, including assists per set (32nd, 10.30) and total assists (90th, 474), while averaging 2.22 digs per set.

Meanwhile, Rothe is becoming one of the best middle blockers in the game. She leads the SEC with a .449 hitting percentage and ranks seventh in the NCAA. She’s also averaging 1.29 blocks per set, which is fourth in the SEC and 49th nationally. 

Tennessee Lady Vols 

The Lady Vols, another program with no players previously listed on the July list, have come in hot with three additions. 

Caroline Kerr leads the team with 459 assists and 10.93 assists per set, with her assists per set ranking sixth in the NCAA. She’s reached 40 or more assists in four matches and leads the nation in kills per set at 14.57. While tied for the team lead in double-doubles with five, she sits eighth in program history with 29 career double-doubles. 

In her first year as a Lady Vol, Kennedi Rogers has been a standout. She leads the team in kills at 164, kills per set at 4.56, points at 184, and points per set at 5.11. Rogers currently ranks 11th nationally in kills per set and points per set, while reaching double-digit kills in 10 out of her 11 matches. 

With 124 kills, 92 digs, 29 blocks, and 26 assists, Jalyn Stout has reached double-digit kills in seven matches, while recording a season-high 17 at home. Her .338 hitting percentage ranks 11th currently in the SEC. 

Taylor Stanley, Kansas Jayhawks

Stanley is one of a few freshmen who are having an impressive breakout season. She leads the Big 12 with 4.70 kills and 5.60 points per set and has collected double-digit kills in every single match so far this season. 

Stanley earned three straight Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors in September, plus one Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor. 

Blaire Bayless, Pitt Panthers 

Bayless joins teammates Olivia Babcock and Izzy Starck on the Watch List. 

In the midst of her best collegiate season yet, Bayless has led Pitt to an incredible 14-1 start. She is second on the team with 3.14 kills per set, while hitting .259. While averaging 1.72 digs and a serve receive percentage of .955, she is second on the team with 3.45 points per set. Bayless has also totaled 29 blocks, averaging 0.58 per set. 

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Nicole Reitz
NICOLE REITZ

Nicole Reitz graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in sports journalism in 2022 and has been writing about softball and baseball since 2018. Her work has been published in various publications like Softball On SI, Softball America, the Indianapolis Star, and SoxOn35th.

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