The month of August in NCAA Division 1 Volleyball was filled with upsets, sweeps, and players that came to play. The competitive grit these females brought to the court shows that they are looking for early entry to the All-American teams. So let’s dolphin dive right into the court.
Starting off with the player who is the “quarterback” for the number 1 team in the nation currently, Bergen Rielly. In the month of August, Rielly gave us outstanding performances against 3 top 10 ranked teams. Rielly is know for distributing the ball to everybody, keeping a very balanced offense. The husker volleyball head coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, says in a press interview that Rielly is the ultimate leader on the team and has the highest volleyball IQ.
Next up is the leading hitter for Penn State and transfer from Florida, Kennedy Martin. Kennedy Martin’s performance during the AVCA First Serve Showcase is nothing short but perfection. She was named MVP of the match against Creighton and had a double-double on the night with 14 kills and 9 digs. Martin’s shot selection, height, and hard swings is what sets her apart from other first team All- Americans. Martin is aiming for the National Player of the Year award and with her talent, its looking reachable.
Moving on to another star is Texas Longhorn’s leading scorer, Torrey Stafford. The transfer from Pittsburgh University, Stafford has adapted very well to the Longhorn’s play. At Pitt, Stafford was behind the National Player of the Year, Olivia Babcock. At Texas, Stafford is one of the leaders in a younger team and is their go-to hitter against tough opponents. In the Longhorn’s 3rd game of the 2025 season, Stafford got a career- high of 24 kills, also getting a double- double of 13 digs.
Next in line is a sophomore outside hitter on the Louisville Cardinals, Peyton Peterson. Peterson is leading the team in kills with 29 on the year, the other outside on the team is a 2x All-American, who has 27 kills on the season, Chloe Chicoine. Peterson’s shot selection and smarts on the court is what really does the job and this year will be her break out year in college volleyball.
Lastly is the reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, Olivia Babcock. Babcock has 71 kills on the year so far and will continue to impress everybody every game. Babcock’s athleticism and hops sets her apart and makes her a go to hitter for Pitt’s offense.
These players wildly impressed everybody with their talent, some with big names and others that certainly gained them this August. The countdown to the NCAA Tournament officially starts and we know these players will be ready to play when the time comes.
