University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Blaire Bayless Added To National Player Of The Year Watch List
10/8/2026 11:26:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Volleyball senior outside hitter Blaire Bayless has been added to the watch list for the 2026 Division I Player of the Year Award, presented by Nike Volleyball. Bayless is one of 16 players added to the initial list of 30 that were announced on the preseason watch list in late July.
Bayless joins teammates Olivia Babcock and Izzy Starck on the watch list and she was chosen by the AVCA Division I Women's Volleyball Awards Committee. A list of semifinalists will be announced in mid-November with finalists announced a month later. The Player of the Year will be announced at the AVCA Awards Banquet in San Antonio on Friday, Dec. 18. Babcock has been named the National Player of the Year for each of the past two years.
Bayless is having a career year at Pitt and has helped lead the team to a 14-1 start and a No. 2 national ranking. She is second on the team with 3.14 kills per set, while hitting .259. She is also second at 3.45 points per set and has become one of Pitt's most consistent and reliable defensive players, averaging 1.72 digs with a .955 serve receive percentage, best among all Pitt players with at least 30 serve receives on the season. She has totaled 29 blocks as well, averaging 0.58 per set.
After starting 14-0 on the season, Pitt dropped a four-set loss to No. 6 SMU Wednesday night. The Panthers will get the opportunity to avenge that loss Sunday as the Panthers face the Mustangs again. That contest will take place in Dallas with first serve scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN.
