Trio of Panthers Named AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalists

PITTSBURGH – The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced 14 players as AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalists, and three Panthers found themselves on the list. Rachel Fairbanks, Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford were recognized for their incredible play this season. Pitt leads the nation with three nominees and is one of only two programs to have multiple players named to the exclusive list. 

Fairbanks, the 2023 ACC Setter of the Year, AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American has enjoyed a successful senior season. She has earned three ACC Setter of the Week awards and is leading the Panthers to a nation best .336 team hitting percentage. All five starting hitters are hitting at least .250 on the season, and she is averaging a career-best 10.34 assists per set. The Panthers have hit at least .300 in 17 matches this season.

Babcock hasn’t slowed down in her sophomore campaign after having the best freshman season in program history. She is second in the nation in aces per set (0.67), seventh in points per set (5.66) and 25th in kills per set (4.37). Babcock has won two ACC Offensive Player of the Week awards and is hitting a personal best .317. She recorded an individual single season program record earlier this year against Boston College with 12 aces. In that match she registered her first career triple-double with 14 kills, 12 aces and 10 digs. 

Stafford has improved in all facets of her game in her sophomore season. She is hitting a career-best .373 from the outside and leading all Power Four pin hitters. Stafford is averaging 3.84 kills per set, 2.20 digs per set and 0.64 blocks per set. She has recorded double-digit kills in 17 matches this season and notched a season-high 17 kills and 14 digs against Notre Dame. 

This Watch List will be narrowed down to a group of finalists in December right before the AVCA Convention. The 2024 AVCA Player of the Year will be named Friday, Dec. 20, in Louisville, Ky. during the AVCA Convention.