University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Olivia Babcock Named AVCA National Player Of The Week
8/26/2026 2:50:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt senior right side Olivia Babcock has been named the AVCA National Player of the Week for her efforts in guiding the Panthers to a pair of wins to open the season over No. 3 Kentucky and Xavier at the Jeep AVCA First Serve.
Babcock had 39 kills and hit .368 across the two wins over the weekend, adding 14 digs, seven blocks and two aces.
In a four-set win over No. 3 Kentucky to begin the season, Babcock had 27 kills, nine digs and four blocks. As the stakes got higher, she got stronger, posting 15 of her kills in the final two sets and hitting .414 over the last two frames compared to .259 in the first two.
She followed that performance with 12 kills and a .450 attack percentage in the win over Xavier, continuing her contributions in all areas with five digs, three blocks and a pair of service aces.
This is the fifth time Babcock has been named AVCA National Player of the Week during the course of her four-year career. This week, she also earned recognition as ACC Offensive Player of the Week and Jeep AVCA All-First Serve Opposite.
Babcock and the Pitt volleyball team return home to host the Opening Spike Classic Friday and Sunday, welcoming No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 15 Kansas to the Petersen Events Center. Winners of 21 straight matches inside Petersen Events Center, Pitt will face Kansas Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Wisconsin Sunday at noon. Tickets are available by CLICKING HERE.
