Pitt Chosen as ACC Favorite, Adds Four to Preseason All-ACC List
7/31/2025 12:58:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – Olivia Babcock, Bre Kelley, Blaire Bayless and Ryla Jones were tabbed to the Preseason All-ACC Team on Thursday, the conference announced. Pitt was dubbed the favorite to win the 2025 ACC Championship after claiming three straight conference titles. Pitt received 279 total points and 10 first place votes by ACC head coaches.
The reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year adds the accolade to her impressive resume. Babcock heads into her junior year after leading the Panthers in points (677.5), points per set (5.94) kills (538), kills per set (4.72), aces (71) and aces per set (0.62). Babcock won two AVCA National Player of the Week and three ACC Offensive Player of the Week awards last year and finished fourth in the nation in points per set.
Kelley returned from a season ending injury in 2023 to earn AVCA Second Team All-American status last season. She was named to the AVCA East Coast All-Region Team and a First Team All-ACC performer. Kelley hit a conference and program record breaking .497 in 2024 and finished eighth nationally in blocks per set (1.49).
Bayless is prepped for a breakout junior season after seeing substantial playing time last year. The outside hitter recently won the gold medal at the NORCECA U21 Pan American Cup in San Jose, Costa Rica. She recorded eight kills and an ace in the semifinals and four points in the championship match.
Jones capped off an impressive rookie year after being named to the All-ACC Freshman Team and AVCA East Coast Region Team. She notched 123 kills and 102 blocks and was named the ACC Freshman of the Week after posting 18 kills and 13 blocks in three sweeps against Penn State, East Carolina and Marquette.
Pitt begins its season on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. EST in Lincoln, Neb. at Pinnacle Bank Arena as it takes on 2024 Co Big Ten Champion and Final Four participant Nebraska in the AVCA First Serve Showcase on FOX. Pitt finishes the weekend on ESPN against Florida on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. EST.
