Babcock and Gray Earn Spots On VNL Week One Roster
5/30/2025 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – Olivia Babcock and Serena Gray have earned a spot on the 2025 VNL (Volleyball Nations League) week one roster, announced by USA Volleyball on Friday afternoon. They are two of 14 athletes to compete at the first preliminary round stop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 4-8). The duo are the first Panthers to be named to an active VNL Senior National Team roster.
Babcock took home silver with USA Volleyball at the NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six last summer in the Dominican Republic. Gray competed at the 2023 Pan American Cup and earned a first-place finish, defeating host Dominican Republic.
The 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year had the most decorated season in program history in her sophomore campaign. Babcock was named the AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year, an AVCA First Team All-American, Volleymag.com First Team All-American, First Team All-ACC, Pittsburgh NCAA Regional Most Valuable Player and an AVCA East Coast Region Team member.
Gray was an AVCA First Team All-American at Pitt and led the Panthers to back-to-back National Semifinal appearances. She was a two-time ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and All-ACC First Team recipient.
The VNL brings together the world's top 18 teams for three action-packed weeks of preliminary play, with each team competing in four matches per week. Only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the Final Round, where a VNL title will be on the line.
