Olivia Babcock, a sophomore from the University of Pittsburgh, has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Volleyball, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 49 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, signifying “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 30, at 7 pm ET, in New York City.
Babcock was selected via a nationwide vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. The other finalists for this year’s award were Lexi Rodriguez (Nebraska), Sarah Franklin (Wisconsin), and Brooklyn DeLeye (Kentucky).
“It’s such an honor to represent this team and program with this award,” stated Babcock. “There is no way this would’ve been possible without the people I’m surrounded by every day, so I’m taking this as a team award rather than an individual one. I am so unbelievably grateful.”
Babcock has had a sensational sophomore campaign at the University of Pittsburgh, earning the prestigious title of 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year. A two-time AVCA First Team All-American, Babcock also secured the 2024 ACC Player of the Year honor after being named ACC Freshman of the Year just last season. She is a two-time ACC First Team All-Conference selection, the 2024 AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year, and a two-time NCAA Regional Most Valuable Player.
Babcock led the Panthers’ offense with impressive averages of 5.94 points per set, 4.72 kills per set, 1.82 digs per set, and 0.62 aces per set. Her kills per set is a program best in the 25-point scoring era. She delivered a career-high 33 kills in the National Semifinal against No. 4 Louisville — the most by a Panther since 2001 and the highest ever in an NCAA Tournament match. Her 538 kills this season rank fifth in program history and first in the 25-point scoring era.
Babcock set a single-season program record with 71 aces, including a standout performance with 12 aces in one match, which also featured her first career triple-double. She has earned numerous weekly honors, including two AVCA National Player of the Week awards and three ACC Offensive Player of the Week awards.
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, Babcock continues to excel both on and off the court.
“This is a tremendous honor for Olivia, our team, the school and the city of Pittsburgh,” noted head coach Dan Fisher. “To be Pitt’s first Honda Award winner is a huge accomplishment, and I’m excited to see her continue to excel and grow, both on and off the court.”
The CWSA, now in its 49th year, continues to honor the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their exceptional athletic achievements, leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. Since the inception of its partnership in 1986, Honda has contributed over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs at the universities of award winners and nominees.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.