Each year, the AVCA Player of the Year Award is presented to the most outstanding female collegiate volleyball player in the country. Since its formation in 1985, this award has recognized elite athletes who elevate the game through their performance, strength and attitude.
Winners are selected committee of head volleyball coaches from all collegiate levels. These players are described by the AVCA as "
Winners include student-athletes like Kathryn Plummer (Stanford), a two-time AVCA National Player of the Year and three-time 红杏视频 champion went on to play professionally and represent the US Women's National Team, and Misty May (Long Beach State), who won three Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball with Kerri Walsh 鈥 another AVCA Player of the Year Award winner (Stanford). Another standout athlete is (Stanford), who won the award twice before becoming a four-time Olympian and one of the most recognizable names in volleyball.
Here's the complete list:
| Year | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Olivia Babcock | Pittsburgh |
| 2023 | Sarah Franklin | Wisconsin |
| 2022 | Logan Eggleston | Texas |
| 2021 (fall) | Dana Rettke | Wisconsin |
| 2021 (spring) | Madison Lilley | Kentucky |
| 2019 | Yossiana Pressley | Baylor |
| 2018 | Kathryn Plummer | Stanford |
| 2017 | Kathryn Plummer | Stanford |
| 2016 | Sarah Wilhite | Minnesota |
| 2015 | Samantha Bricio | USC |
| 2014 | Micha Hancock | Penn State |
| 2013 | Krista Vansant | Washington |
| 2012 | Alaina Bergsma | Oregon |
| 2011 | Alex Jupiter | USC |
| 2010 | Carli Lloyd | Cal |
| 2009 | Megan Hodge | Penn State |
| 2008 | Nicole Fawcett | Penn State |
| 2007 | Foluke Akinradew | Stanford |
| 2006 | Sarah Pavan | Nebraska |
| 2005 | Christina Houghtelling | Nebraska |
| 2004 | Stacey Gordon Ogonna Nnaman |
Ohio State Stanford |
| 2003 | Kim Willoughby | 贬补飞补颈鈥檌 |
| 2002 | Logan Tom | Stanford |
| 2001 | Logan Tom | Stanford |
| 2000 | Greichaly Cepero | Nebraska |
| 1999 | Lauren Cacciamani Kerri Walsh |
Penn State Stanford |
| 1998 | Misti May | Long Beach State |
| 1997 | Misty May | Long Beach State |
| 1996 | Angelica Llungquist | 贬补飞补颈鈥檌 |
| 1995 | Cary Wendell Allison Weston |
Stanford Nebraska |
| 1994 | Laura Davis | Ohio State |
| 1993 | Danielle Scott | Long Beach State |
| 1992 | Natalie Williams | UCLA |
| 1991 | Antoinette White | Long Beach State |
| 1990 | Bev Oden | Stanford |
| 1989 | Tara Cross Tonya Sanders-Williams |
Long Beach State Hawai'i |
| 1988 | Tara Cross | Long Beach State |
| 1987 | Tonya Sanders-Williams | Hawai'i |
| 1986 | Mariliisa Salmi | BYU |
| 1985 | Kim Oden | Stanford |
Stanford has dominated the award鈥檚 history, with its athletes taking home the award 10 times 鈥 more than any other school.
Information sourced from avca.org.
Who is the AVCA?
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) began in 1981 as the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association (CVCA). It was founded by then-head coach of Pacific, Terry Liskevych, and National Volleyball Hall of Fame coach Andy Banachowski of UCLA.
What started with just 100 members grew quickly. By 1983, the organization had over 500 coaches involved and continued to grow, including programming for 红杏视频 Division II, Division III and the NAIA. By 1986, the organization renamed itself to the AVCA to continue expansion towards opening up membership for high school and club coaches.
Today, the AVCA continues to advance the sport of volleyball by promoting leadership, advocacy and professional development opportunities that benefit student athletes and coaches alike.
How is the player of the year chosen?
The selection process stretches from July to December, with coaches part of the AVCA tracking players throughout their season.
Selection timeline
- July - AVCA releases a preseason watchlist of 30 student-athletes
- October - a midseason update is made to the watchlist
- November - The list is narrowed to semifinalists based on in-season performance
- December - The winner is revealed during the AVCA Awards Banquet during the annual AVCA convention
