CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Pitt sophomore right side hitter Olivia Babcock has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while Pitt redshirt junior middle blocker Bre Kelley was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week for matches played October 14-20. Additionally, Pitt senior Rachel Fairbanks has been named the ACC Setter of the Week and Louisville setter Nayelis Cabello was tabbed the ACC Freshman of the Week.
Last week, Babcock averaged 7.0 points per set, 5.5 kills per set, 1.83 blocks per set, and 1.33 digs per set over the Panthers’ two wins. In a win against California, the sophomore out of Los Angeles had a match-high 16 kills and hit .577 before recording a match-high 17 kills and a .361 hitting percentage in the sweep over No. 5 Stanford. Babcock also helped at the net defensively by adding 11 blocks for the week. Babcock has 237 kills on the season and is No. 21 in the nation in kills per set at 4.39.
Kelley averaged 2.00 blocks per set, 1.67 kills per set, and hit .450 last week for the Panthers to help sweep California and No. 5 Stanford. At the net, she helped hold California to a season-low -.048 hitting percentage and Stanford to a season-low .090 hitting percentage. Kelley leads Pitt in blocks with 72.0 on the year and is eighth in the nation in blocks per set at 1.50.
Fairbanks was named the ACC Setter of the Week for the second time this season. She shared Co-Setter of the Week honors on September 23 but holds the title on her own this week after a 10.50 assists per set performance last week. In the wins over California and No. 5 Stanford, Fairbanks recorded 63 assists, six service aces, and three kills. The senior out of Tustin, California, was a force on both sides of the net, adding six blocks and 15 digs to the Pitt defense.
Cabello was selected as the ACC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season. The Louisville setter recorded 31 assists, 10 digs, a pair of blocks, and a pair of aces in the Cardinals’ conference sweeps over Wake Forest and NC State. The Clairmont, Florida, native has 334 assists, 90 digs and eight aces on the season.
Seven ACC teams are ranked inside the latest AVCA/TARFLEX Coaches Poll, headlined by No. 1 Pitt, No. 4 Louisville and No. 5 Stanford in the top five. North Carolina joins the Top 25 for the first time this season. The seven teams are tied for the most of any conference this week. Conference play continues this week beginning on Wednesday, October 23, when Virginia travels to Syracuse at 7 p.m. ET on ACCN and No. 5 Stanford travels to California to take on the Golden Bears at 10 p.m. ET on ACCNX. The rest of the conference begins the week on Friday, October 25.
2024 ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 2 – Maggie Li, California
Sept. 9 – Tamara Otene, Georgia Tech
Sept. 16 – Olivia Babcock, Pitt
Sept. 23 – Grace Lopez, Miami
Sept. 30 – Audrey Koenig, Florida State
Oct. 7 – Charitie Luper, Louisville
Oct. 14 – Anna DeBeer, Louisville
Oct. 21 – Olivia Babcock, Pitt
2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 2 – Elena Scott, Louisville
Sept. 9 – Nnedi Okammor, SMU
Sept. 16 – Elena Scott, Louisville | Sami Francis, Stanford
Sept. 23 – Bianka Lulic, Miami
Sept. 30 – Elena Scott, Louisville
Oct. 7 – Naya Shime, SMU
Oct. 14 – Cara Cresse, Louisville
Oct. 21 - Bre Kelley, Pitt
2024 ACC Setter of the Week
Sept. 2 – Annlea Maeder, California
Sept. 9 – Kami Miner, Stanford
Sept. 16 – Phyona Schrader, Notre Dame
Sept. 23 – Ariana Rodriguez, Miami | Rachel Fairbanks, Pitt
Sept. 30 – Celia Cullen, SMU
Oct. 7 – Kami Miner, Stanford
Oct. 14 - Kami Miner, Stanford
Oct. 21 – Rachel Fairbanks, Pitt
2024 ACC Freshman of the Week
Sept. 2 – Nayelis Cabello, Louisville
Sept. 9 – Breonna Goss, Duke
Sept. 16 – Neea-Maria Joki, Clemson
Sept. 23 – Ryla Jones, Pitt
Sept. 30 – Breonna Goss, Duke
Oct. 7 - Nayelis Cabello, Louisville
Oct. 14 – Ipar Kurt, Stanford
Oct. 21 – Nayelis Cabello, Louisville