NCAA Volleyball All-American Honors: A Comprehensive Overview
The landscape of NCAA volleyball is constantly evolving, showcasing exceptional talent and athletic prowess. The annual AVCA All-American awards stand as a testament to the dedication and skill of these remarkable athletes. This article delves into the details of the All-American selections, highlighting the top players, team representation, and emerging trends in the sport.
The Pinnacle of Achievement: AVCA All-American First Team
Selection to the AVCA All-American First Team is a prestigious honor, recognizing the most outstanding players in the nation. The 2025 AVCA first-team All-Americans represent 11 different schools across four conferences. Nebraska leads the way with three first-team selections, followed by Kentucky with two. The Big Ten boasts the most players with five, while the ACC and SEC each have four. The Big 12 also made a mark with Arizona's State's Noemie Glover on the first team.
Individual Standouts
- Olivia Babcock, Pittsburgh, Jr.: This 6-foot-4 right side hitter has consistently impressed, earning her third consecutive selection. In the past season, she recorded career highs in kills per set (5.11) and digs per set (2.11), setting a program record with 45 kills vs. North Carolina on Nov. 2. Babcock is also up for the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
- Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin, Sr.: The 6-3 outside hitter demonstrated exceptional offensive capabilities with 20 or more kills in nine matches this season, including 23 kills vs. No. 1 Texas in the Elite Eight and 27 kills vs. No. 2 Stanford in the Round of 16. She averaged 5.39 kills per set and 5.97 points per set.
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M, Sr.: As a dominant force at the net, the 6-foot-2 middle blocker leads the nation with 190 total blocks (21 solo) and has a team-high 1.70 blocks per set. She had a season-high 13 blocks vs. Tennessee on Nov. 2.
- Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky, Jr.: The 6-2 outside hitter has been a consistent offensive threat, averaging 4.69 kills per set and hitting .289 with a team-high 521 kills this year. DeLeye is responsible for more than 564.5 points this year.
- Noemie Glover, Arizona State, Jr.: A transfer from Oregon, the 6-2 opposite hitter made an immediate impact, being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice. She recorded double-digit kills in 26 of 27 games this season.
- Flormarie Heredia Colon, Miami, Sr.: The 6-foot outside hitter broke the program record with 42 kills in a match against Florida State. Heredia Colon currently leads the nation in kills (779), points (881.5), kills per set (6.33) and points per set (7.17).
- 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.
- Andi Jackson, Nebraska, Jr.: As a key player for Nebraska, the 6-3 middle blocker averaged 2.74 kills per set on .467 hitting with 1.12 blocks per set. Jackson leads the nation in hitting percentage.
- Malaya Jones, SMU, Gr.: The 6-0 right side hitter recorded team highs in kills (526) and kills per set (4.28) and had nine double-doubles, including a 27-kill, 17-dig performance vs. NC State on Nov. 29.
- Kennedy Martin, Penn State, Jr.: The 6-6 right side hitter leads the Big Ten in kills (634) and kills per set (5.24) with a .319 hitting percentage. She recorded a career-best 34 kills against Ohio State on Nov. 16.
- Harper Murray, Nebraska, Jr.: The 6-2 outside hitter leads the Huskers with 3.54 kills per set and is hitting .295. Murray averages 2.16 digs per set and has a team-high 34 aces.
- 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.
- Elia Rubin, Stanford, Sr.: The 6-1 outside hitter leads the Cardinal with 3.98 points per set and 3.43 kills per set. Rubin recorded 12 double-doubles this season and is only the 11th Cardinal to surpass 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
- Torrey Stafford, Texas, Jr.: The 6-2 outside hitter leads the Longhorns in kills (516) and kills per set (4.69).
Recognizing Excellence: Second and Third Teams, Honorable Mentions
The AVCA All-American teams extend beyond the first team, acknowledging a broader range of talent. The 2025 list includes 42 players-14 on the first, second, and third teams-from 24 schools, and 57 players receive honorable mention honors. Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas A&M lead the way with four players on the first three teams.
Celebrating Experience: Three-Time All-Americans
The All-American list also celebrates athletes who have consistently performed at the highest level throughout their collegiate careers. Eight first-team honorees are earning their third All-America honors: Olivia Babcock of Pittsburgh, Mimi Colyer of Wisconsin, Eva Hudson of Kentucky, Kennedy Martin of Penn State, Harper Murray of Nebraska, Bergen Reilly of Nebraska, Elia Rubin of Stanford, and Torrey Stafford of Texas.
Fresh Faces: AVCA Freshman of the Year
The future of NCAA volleyball looks bright with the emergence of talented freshmen. The 2025 AVCA Freshman of the Year is Kassie O’Brien. She took over the starting setter role for Kentucky in September and has guided the Wildcats back to the NCAA Championship semifinals.
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Positional Awards: A New Era of Recognition
For the first time ever, the AVCA also named positional awards for Division I volleyball, marking a significant step in recognizing specialized talent within the sport.
NEWMAC Recognition
The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) also celebrates its own stars. NEWMAC and AVCA Region II Player of the Year Kayleigh May was a first-team selection for the second-straight season. Ali Gibbs was a second-team selection, averaging 0.70 blocks per set and compiling 76 total blocks. AVCA Region II Freshman of the Year Ella Zhou was a third-team selection. Zhou averaged 3.30 kills per set on .231 hitting, as well as 0.50 service aces per set and 3.92 points per set, both of which led the Engineers. The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy.
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