Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
We are about halfway through the college volleyball season and these names have stood out.
We’re starting to get about halfway through the college volleyball season, with conference races heating up, larger and larger crowds being filled and stars shining on the court.
With some newer faces and known stars, here are some of the most impressive players on the court this season.
Olivia Babcock | 6-foot-4 Sophomore Opposite Hitter | Pitt Panthers
When you are on the number one team in the country, it means you’re surrounded by a lot of great players.
But sophomore Olivia Babcock has been the Panthers’ supernova during their impressive start to the season. The Panthers are ranked number one in the country and Babcock, alongside teammate Torrey Stafford, are a big reason why.
Babcock is leading the team with 4.39 kills per set, leads the team in aces with 42 on the season — her 0.78 aces per set statistic is the second best in the NCAA — and is second on the team with 1.24 blocks per set.
The Los Angeles-native was named AVCA Freshman Player of the Year last season and has lived up to her billing as a sophomore and has a habit of coming up big in important matches. Babcock had 17 kills in a 3-0 sweep over the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal on Sunday and has posted double digit kills in 13 matches this season. Get ready to see a lot more of her come NCAA tournament time as Pitt looks like a huge threat to get back to the Final Four.
Jess Mruzik | 6-foot-1 Super Senior Outside Hitter | Penn State Nittany Lions
Staying in the Keystone State, Jess Mruzik is continuing off her huge year last season to lead the Big Ten in kills per set with 4.72, a mark good enough for eighth most in the NCAA.
The former Wolverine transferred to PSU in 2023 where she won Second Team All-American honors last season as she led the Nittany Lions in kills last season as well. The veteran outside hitter is also hitting just under .300 on the season and has had a pair of 29-kill outbursts in a four-set win over Michigan State and a five-set thriller against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Lexie Almodovar | 5-foot-8 Fifth Year Senior Outside Hitter | Dayton Flyers
Another swinger who is in the Top 10 in kills per set in the country is Lexie Almodovar. She has been Dayton’s star outside hitter with 4.66 kills per set while swinging for a .313 hitting percentage on the season.
Almodovar stuffs the stat sheet for the No. 20 Dayton Flyers. She has the second most digs, third most aces and has even chipped in with 31 blocks — including six solo blocks — and is incredible to watch. Dayton’s lone loss of the season came to Marquette in September, but the Flyers will hope to play spoiler in the NCAA tournament from the A-10. Almodovar will be a big reason why.
Elena Scott | 5-foot-9 Senior Libero | Louisville Cardinals
Elena Scott is a force patrolling the back row for the No. 4 Louisville Cardinals. Scott, who is a Louisville-native herself, is one of the best liberos in the country, posting 4.68 digs per set and has come up huge for the Cards in some of their biggest matches.
In the season opener, Scott had 22 digs in a statement win against the Wisconsin Badgers, 20 digs in an in-state rivalry win over Kentucky and 23 in a five-set thriller victory over Creighton.
When the lights are shining brightest, Scott steps up for the Cards. She’ll be a key for Louisville, and she and the Cards will have two more matches this season against the No. 1 Pitt Panthers that will go a long way to crowning an ACC champion.
Raven Colvin | 6-foot-1 Senior Middle Blocker | Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers have a great tandem of outside hitters in Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine, but we want to celebrate not just the outside hitters here, and Raven Colvin is a middle blocker worth celebrating.
Colvin leads the Big Ten in blocks and blocks per set and is a true force for the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers. She’s had three matches on the season with double digit blocks, including 11 in a five-set loss to Nebraska.
Colvin is also a big threat for Purdue on offense: she leads the team with 27 aces and is third on the team behind the aforementioned outside hitters with 2.61 kills per set.
Andi Jackson | 6-foot-3 Sophomore Middle Blocker | Nebraska Cornhuskers
Another team with a wealth of options is Nebraska, but Andi Jackson has shown up with her reliability when it comes to recording kills.
Jackson leads the NCAA with .480 hitting percentage among those eligible and is a steady option for a loaded Husker attack. Jackson is third on the team with 2.70 kills per set and is second behind Bekah Allick in blocks per set with 1.09.
Jackson is a big reason why Nebraska is currently perfect in the Big Ten conference so far, and she’ll be key in the Huskers’ quest for another national title.
Mary Schroll | 5-foot-8 Fifth Year Libero | Arizona State Sun Devils
The Arizona State Sun Devils look on track for a second-straight NCAA tournament appearance. Hometown kid Mary Shroll is a big reason why.
The libero transferred back home to her hometown of Tempe from Loyola Marymount back in 2023 and has been a big reason for ASU’s turnaround.
With the Sun Devils off to a 18-2 start and No. 13 ranking, Shroll is statistically the best libero in the Big-12 this season with a league leading 5.11 digs per set, good enough for 11th best in the country. She’s also had 20 aces on the year as ASU looks to keep their red-hot start on the season.
