Charlotte, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference had five volleyball players named as semifinalists for the 2024 AVCA Division I Player of the Year, headlined by Pitt with three players, while Louisville and Stanford each had one.
Pitt’s Olivia Babcock, Rachel Fairbanks and Torrey Stafford, Louisville’s Elena Scott and Stanford’s Kami Miner were named to the original watch list that was revealed on September 20. The list started with 36 players before growing to 50 in October. The five ACC standouts are now a part of the 14 semifinalists.
After coming off the best freshman season in program history, Babcock has had yet another outstanding season for the top-ranked Panthers. The Los Angeles, California, native has 328 kills, 129 aces, 85.0 total blocks and 50 service aces on the season. Earlier this season, Babcock set the single-season program record of 12 aces in a single match against Boston College on October 4. In the same match, the Pitt sophomore recorded her first career triple-double with 14 kills, 12 aces and 10 digs. Babcock has been named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.
The reigning 2023 ACC Setter of the Year, 2023 AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year and 2023 AVCA First-Team All-American is having a stellar senior season. Fairbanks has 662 assists, 146 digs, and 28.0 total blocks for the Panthers. The Tustin, California, native is second in the ACC in assists per set with 10.34. Fairbanks has claimed three ACC Setter of the Week honors this season as she has helped lead the Panthers to a nation-best .336 team hitting percentage.
Stafford has 265 kills, 152 digs, 44.0 blocks and 16 service aces on the season. The Pitt sophomore outside hitter is hitting a career-best .373 with 3.84 kills per set. The Torrance, California, native has recorded double-digit kills in 17 matches this season with a season-high 17 kills and 14 digs against Notre Dame on October 27.
Arguably one of the best liberos in the nation, Scott has had a show-stopping season for the No. 3 Cardinals. The Louisville, Kentucky, native has 375 digs, 84 assists, and 27 aces on the season in 82 sets played. The reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
With 823 assists on the season, Miner leads the ACC in…
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