CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Olivia Babcock, a junior right side hitter for the University of Pittsburgh, has been honored with the 2025 Honda Sport Award for Volleyball, as announced on Saturday, January 18, by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
Babcock has made significant contributions to the Panthers, leading the team to an impressive overall record of 33-2 and a conference record of 19-1 this season. Her efforts culminated in Pitt’s fourth consecutive appearance at the national semifinals. In the 2024 season, she boasted an impressive hitting percentage of .323, tallying 538 kills and contributing 71 aces to fuel the Panthers’ offensive firepower. On the defensive side, the Los Angeles native accumulated 208 digs and 128.0 total blocks.
Recognized as the 2024 ACC Volleyball Player of the Year and selected for the All-ACC First Team, Babcock’s 538 kills led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and placed her 10th nationally in Division I volleyball. Her dominance on the court also earned her the top spot in the conference and the 12th rank in the nation with an average of 4.72 kills per set. Notably, her exceptional performance this season contributed to Pitt establishing a new ACC single-season record for hitting percentage at .332, surpassing the previous record of .331 set by Georgia Tech in 2003.
In the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship semifinals against Louisville on December 19, Babcock achieved a career-high of 33 kills, marking a Pitt record for the most kills in an NCAA Tournament match. This performance was also notable as it represented the highest number of kills in an NCAA semifinal since Jordan Thompson of Cincinnati notched 50 kills in 2019.
Babcock’s prowess on the court extends to her serving, as her 71 aces not only topped the ACC but also ranked fifth in the nation. She now holds the record for the most service aces in the history of the Pitt Panthers during the 25-point scoring era.
Making history, Babcock is the first player from the ACC to earn both the AVCA Division I Player of the Year award and the Honda Sport Award for Volleyball while competing in the conference. The Honda Sport Award has been recognizing the top female athletes across 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports for 49 years, representing the pinnacle of collegiate athletic achievement.
As a result of her remarkable accomplishments, Babcock is now a finalist for the esteemed Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2025 Honda Cup. The Honda Cup will be awarded during the live broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network in June.
