Babcock Headlines First Group of Semifinalists for AVCA National Player of the Year

Olivia Babcock was already part of an elite group, as one of just six players named AVCA National Player of the Year twice.

This year, she has the chance to establish a new club by winning the award three times.

On Thursday, Pittsburgh’s senior opposite took the next step in the journey as she was named one of 14 semifinalists for the annual award. AVCA announced six semifinalists Thursday, with the other seven set to be revealed Friday.

The only other two-time winners are: Tara Cross, Long Beach State (1988-89), Tonya Sanders-Williams, Hawai’i (1987, 1989), Misty May, Long Beach State (1997-98), Logan Tom, Stanford (2001-02) and Kathryn Plummer, Stanford (2017-18).

Babcock joined the semifinalists with her setter Izzy Starck, Baylor outside hitter Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Kentucky outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky libero Molly Tuozzo, Penn State opposite Kennedy Martin and SMU middle blocker Favor Anyanwu.

Penn State opposite Kennedy Martin goes for an attack against SMU's Favor Anyanwu (21) during the Spikes Under the Lights. — Penn State opposite Kennedy Martin goes for an attack against SMU's Favor Anyanwu (21) during the Spikes Under the Lights match at AT&T Stadium. They are two of the seven semifinalists announced for the AVCA Player of the Year Award on Thursday. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The four finalists for the award will be named Dec. 14, with the winner announced at the AVCA Awards Banquet in San Antonio on Friday, Dec. 18.

Babcock is fifth in the nation with 5.03 kills per set on a .372 hitting percentage for the 24-1 Panthers. She is also averaging 1.88 digs and 1.13 blocks per set with 31 aces. She is averaging 6.02 points per set, the most in the country.

The Los Angeles native got a scare Wednesday night when she left Pitt’s match with an ankle injury. Pitt coach Dan Fisher said he didn’t know the extent of the injury after the match, but Babcock was on the bench without a brace and laughing with teammates. She’s missed only one match in her career with the Panthers: a four-set Pitt win over Wake Forest earlier this season.

After sitting out most of last season after leaving Penn State in September, Starck has quickly regained the form that helped her win the National Freshman of the Year award in 2024. She is averaging 10.49 assists and 2.66 digs per set while leading the Panthers to a .336 hitting percentage, which only trails Nebraska.

Kennedy Martin is a three-time All-American that has helped Penn State to a 20-5 record. The 6-foot-5 senior 4.9 kills per set with a .347 hitting percentage. She has eight matches with at least 20 kills this season, including a season-best 34 in a four-set win over Minnesota on Nov. 6.

Kentucky’s Molly Tuozzo celebrates with Brooklyn DeLeye. Both were named semifinalists for the AVCA Player of the Year Award | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Brooklyn DeLeye was a finalist for the 2024 Player of the Year Award. The 6-foot-2 senior is a two-time All-American and is putting up 4.5 kills per set while hitting .296 this season. She’s recorded double-digit kills in all but one match for the Wildcats, who are 18-5.

Her teammate, Tuozzo, is averaging a career-best 3.97 digs per set. The 5-foot-9 senior libero is passing 2.41 out of 3 with a 65.9 good-pass percentage while allowing just seven aces off 352 receptions. She was the 2025 SEC Tournament MVP and an All-American last year.

Anyanwu is fourth in the nation with 1.57 blocks per set. The 6-foot-2 junior is also averaging 2.35 kills per set on a .397 hitting percentage for the 20-4 Mustangs. She almost recorded a triple-double in a four-set win at San Diego this year with 11 kills, 11 digs and nine blocks.

Rakhmanchick has put up at least 20 kills in her last six matches, including a season-best 32 against Kansas State on Sunday. The 6-foot sophomore is averaging 5.09 kills per set, third in the NCAA, at a .295 clip for the 14-8 Bears.

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