University of Pittsburgh Athletics
11/12/2026 11:07:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced seven of the 14 semifinalists for the 2026 AVCA National Player of the Year. Olivia Babcock and Izzy Starck were among the first seven announced today. The AVCA will name the final seven Friday.
Babcock continues to reach new heights in her senior season with the Panthers. The two-time defending AVCA National Player of the Year leads the country in points per set (6.02) and ranks in the top five in kills per set (5.03). She is doing all of that despite ranking just No. 66 in attacks per set. She is hitting .372 this year, a sharp increase from her career-best .334 as a junior.
Babcock has been named ACC Offensive Player of the Week six times this year and would become the first player in the history of the sport to be named a three-time AVCA National Player of the Year if she does so in 2026. Babcock has already announced that she will return to Pitt for a fifth year in 2027.
Starck has been a tremendous addition to the Panthers after transferring from Penn State. With the Nittany Lions, she was the 2024 AVCA Freshman of the Year and led the team to a national championship. But the junior setter continues to take Pitt to new levels in 2026.
Starck is distributing 10.49 assists per game and directing an offense that ranks second in the country with a .336 attack percentage – a mark that is on-pace to break Pitt's single-season school record. She is also averaging career highs in digs, blocks and service aces.
The 14 person group will be narrowed down to four finalists on Dec. 14, and the 2026 AVCA Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 18 in San Antonio, Texas during the Final Four.
