University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Olivia Babcock Dubbed an AAU Sullivan Award Top Finalist
3/19/2026 9:57:00 AM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH - Olivia Babcock has been dubbed a top finalist for the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award, announced by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) on Thursday morning. She will head to New York City April 6-7 for award festivities and the ceremony. She is in contention for the award alongside Azzi Fudd, Blake Horvath, Alysa Liu, Tatyana McFadden, Fernando Mendoza, Mikaela Shiffrin, Braden Smith and Zahid Valencia. Babcock and Liu are the youngest of the finalists at 20 years old.
Presented annually since 1930, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the most outstanding collegiate, Olympic or similarly elite athlete in the United States. The award is named in tribute to James E. Sullivan, founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union and a pioneer in amateur sports. Babcock looks to become the fourth volleyball player to win the AAU Sullivan Award, joining Lexi Rodriguez (Nebraska, 2025) Kathryn Plummer (Stanford, 2018) and Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin, 2016).
Babcock is named a top finalist after earning 2024 and 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year, AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year and CWSA Honda Award honors. She is the most highly decorated athlete in Pitt volleyball history and looks to expand her resume.
