Olivia Babcock from the University of Pittsburgh, Brooklyn DeLeye from the University of Kentucky, Sarah Franklin of the University of Wisconsin and Lexi Rodriguez from the University of Nebraska have been announced as the four finalists for the Class of 2025 Honda Sport Award for Volleyball, as revealed 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, recognizing the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and symbolizing “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award will become a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during the live broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network in June.
The women’s volleyball finalists by a panel of experts and coaches from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The Honda Sport award winner for volleyball will be later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Babcock, hailing from Los Angeles, Calif., capped off an extraordinary season by being named the 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year. A two-time AVCA First Team All-American, she was also honored as the ACC Player of the Year, following her ACC Freshman of the Year recognition last season. The right side hitter led the Pitt offense, averaging 5.94 points per set, 4.72 kills per set, 1.82 digs per set, and 0.62 aces per set.
DeLeye, a 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year Finalist, dominated the court this season as the SEC Player of the Year and the AVCA South Region Player of the Year. An outside hitter from Topeka, Kansas, she earned AVCA First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC honors while leading Kentucky with 4.87 kills per set, totaling over 500 kills on the season and hitting an impressive .294.
Franklin, a two-time Honda Award finalist, is an outside hitter from Lake Worth, Fla. A two-time AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and former winner, Franklin is also a two-time AVCA First Team All-American and Northeast Region Player of the Year. This season, she averaged 4.46 kills per set, 2.28 digs per set, and 4.96 points per set while hitting double-digit kills in all but two matches.
Rodriguez continues to redefine the libero position as a 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and the first-ever libero to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year. A three-time AVCA First Team All-American, she has also earned four AVCA All-Region honors and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. Hailing from Sterling, Ill., she led Nebraska to the NCAA Championship semifinals.
The CWSA, now in its 49th year, celebrates the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since its partnership began in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees, supporting the growth and success of women’s athletics programs.
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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 improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.