You've probably seen the highlight reels. A 6-foot-something athlete rising above the net, seemingly suspended in mid-air, before detonating a ball into the floor. It’s the kind of power that makes gym floors vibrate. That's the standard right now in NCAA women's volleyball. If you’re following the avca player of the year watch list, you know we aren't just looking for "good" players anymore. We’re looking for unicorns.
Honestly, the 2025 season felt like a fever dream. We entered the year wondering if anyone could touch the dominance of the Big Ten or the rising tide of the ACC. Then Olivia Babcock happened. Again. The Pittsburgh standout didn't just stay on the list; she owned it from the preseason reveal in July 2025 all the way to the trophy presentation in Kansas City.
But here’s the thing most people miss: the watch list isn't just a "who's who" of high-flyers. It’s a survival guide for the most grueling season in collegiate sports.
The Grind of the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) doesn't just throw names at a wall. They use a tiered system that keeps fans on their toes. It usually kicks off in late July. In 2025, for example, the preseason list featured 30 elite athletes. The SEC and Big Ten were tied for the lead with 10 players each. That’s a lot of talent to track.
If you weren't on the original list, you weren't necessarily out of luck. The committee adds names in October. It's kinda like a mid-term check-in. If a sophomore is suddenly averaging 5.0 kills per set and leading her team to Top 10 upsets, she’s getting an invite. By November, the list shrinks. It becomes the semifinalist pool—the best of the best.
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What the Committee is Actually Looking For
- Statistical Dominance: You can't just be "key" to your team. You need the numbers. We’re talking points per set that make coaches lose sleep.
- Big Game Mentality: Did you show up against Nebraska? Did you fold against Texas? The committee watches the biggest stages.
- Versatility: In 2025, they even introduced the Rightside Hitter of the Year award because the talent was getting too specialized to ignore.
Why Olivia Babcock is the Name on Everyone's Lips
It is rare to see a back-to-back winner. It's even rarer to see it happen with such a consensus. Olivia Babcock, the junior right-side hitter from Pitt, became only the fifth player in history to win the AVCA National Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons (2024 and 2025).
Think about that for a second.
She hit 45 kills in a single match against North Carolina in 2025. Forty-five! That hasn't been done in the NCAA since 2019. When the avca player of the year watch list was narrowed down to the final four in mid-December, she was standing there alongside Mimi Colyer (Wisconsin), Eva Hudson (Purdue), and Bergen Reilly (Nebraska).
Each of those women had a legitimate claim. Bergen Reilly is a setter who runs the Nebraska offense with the precision of a Swiss watch. Mimi Colyer has a "terminal" swing that can bail Wisconsin out of any bad pass. Yet, Babcock’s stats—5.11 kills per set and a .330 hitting percentage—were just too loud to ignore.
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The Names That Defined the 2025 Watch List
While Babcock took the crown, the 2025 watch list was arguably the deepest we’ve ever seen. If you were following the SEC, you were watching Brooklyn DeLeye at Kentucky. She’s a junior who basically carried the Wildcats' offense.
Over in the Big Ten, Eva Hudson at Purdue was a scoring machine. People forget how hard it is to maintain a high hitting percentage when every opponent knows the ball is going to you. Hudson did it anyway.
Then you have the specialists. The AVCA committee has started leaning into positional excellence. We saw athletes like Ifenna Cos-Okpalla at Texas A&M dominating the net with blocks, and Maya Sands at Missouri proving that liberos deserve a seat at the table too.
What to Watch for in the 2026 Cycle
Now that the 2025 awards are in the books, the focus shifts. Many of the heavy hitters from the last watch list were seniors. That means the 2026 avca player of the year watch list is going to look radically different. We are entering the era of the "Super Sophomore."
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Keep an eye on the high school ranks too. The AVCA recently crowned Kari Knotts as the 2025 High School Player of the Year. She’s a freshman. Yes, a freshman. The talent gap is closing, and the players are getting more athletic earlier.
How to Follow the 2026 Race
- July 2026: Look for the Preseason Watch List. It’s usually 30-40 names.
- October 2026: Check the "Additions" list. This is where the breakout stars appear.
- November 2026: The semifinalists are announced. If your favorite player isn't here, it's probably over for their campaign.
- December 2026: The final four are revealed just before the NCAA Championships.
The journey from a July nomination to a December trophy is a marathon. It’s about staying healthy, staying consistent, and performing when the lights are the brightest.
If you want to keep up with the next generation of greats, start by tracking the conference leaders in kills and blocks early in the season. The avca player of the year watch list usually follows the stats, but the winner is always the one who changes the game when it matters most.
Stay tuned to the official AVCA releases and match broadcasts. The next Olivia Babcock is already out there, probably practicing a jump serve right now.