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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Stella Swenson Named to AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
10/2/2025 12:05:00 PM | Volleyball
She is one of 47 players in the country to be honored
MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota redshirt freshman setter Stella Swenson was added to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List, the organization announced today. She was one of nine players added today and eight more will be added tomorrow. They join the initial list of 30 players that was announced in July.
Senior outside Julia Hanson was named to the watch list in July among the initial group of 30 players.
No. 10 Minnesota (12-2, 2-1 B1G) ranks fifth in the Big Ten in hitting percentage this season (.296). The Gophers are back in action on Sunday afternoon at Northwestern (11-3, 1-1 B1G). The match will be streamed on B1G+.
Senior outside Julia Hanson was named to the watch list in July among the initial group of 30 players.
The AVCA Player of the Year Watch List was compiled by the AVCA Division I Women's Volleyball Awards Committee. They will also be the group working on the additional phases of the Player of the Year process, which include:
- Naming the semifinalists [November]
- Revealing the finalists [likely Dec. 15]
- The announcement of the Player of the Year in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday Dec. 19.
No. 10 Minnesota (12-2, 2-1 B1G) ranks fifth in the Big Ten in hitting percentage this season (.296). The Gophers are back in action on Sunday afternoon at Northwestern (11-3, 1-1 B1G). The match will be streamed on B1G+.
| 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List (Group 1 of 3) | |||||
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Class | Conference |
| Cheridyn | Leverette | UCLA | OH | Sr. | Big 10 |
| Maggie | Li | UCLA | OH | Jr. | Big 10 |
| Ava | Martin | Creighton | OH | Sr. | Big East |
| Alexis | Shelton | Oklahoma | OH | Sr. | SEC |
| Kennedy | Martin | Penn State | RS | Jr. | Big 10 |
| Izzy | Starck | Penn State | S | So. | Big 10 |
| Olivia | Babcock | Pittsburgh | RS | Jr. | ACC |
| Bre | Kelley | Pittsburgh | MB | RS-Sr. | ACC |
| Ifenna | Cos-Okpalla | Texas A&M | MB | Sr. | SEC |
| Logan | Lednicky | Texas A&M | RS | Sr. | SEC |
| 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List (Group 2 of 3) | |||||
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Class | Conference |
| Brooklyn | DeLeye | Kentucky | OH | Jr. | SEC |
| Eva | Hudson | Kentucky | OH | Sr. | SEC |
| Nia | Washington | LSU | OH | Sr. | SEC |
| Flormarie | Heredia Colon | Miami | OH | Sr. | ACC |
| Andi | Jackson | Nebraska | MB | Jr. | Big 10 |
| Harper | Murray | Nebraska | OH | Jr. | Big 10 |
| Bergen | Reilly | Nebraska | S | Jr. | Big 10 |
| Elia | Rubin | Stanford | OH | Sr. | ACC |
| Caroline | Kerr | Tennessee | S | RS-Jr. | SEC |
| Kamryn | Gibaldo | Utah | OH | Jr. | Big 12 |
| 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List (Group 3 of 3) | |||||
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Class | Conference |
| Claire | Little | BYU | OH | Jr. | Big 12 |
| Chloe | Chicoine | Louisville | OH | Jr. | ACC |
| Cara | Cresse | Louisville | MB | RS-Sr. | ACC |
| Julia | Hanson | Minnesota | OH | Sr. | Big 10 |
| Caylen | Alexander | Missouri | OH | Sr. | SEC |
| Maya | Sands | Missouri | L | Sr. | SEC |
| Malaya | Jones | SMU | RS | Gr. | ACC |
| Torrey | Stafford | Texas | OH | Jr. | SEC |
| Mimi | Colyer | Wisconsin | OH | Sr. | Big 10 |
| Charlie | Fuerbringer | Wisconsin | S | So. | Big 10 |
| 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List (Additional Group 1; Announced Oct. 2) | |||||
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Class | Conference |
| Noemie | Glover | Arizona St. | OH | Jr. | Big 12 |
| Brielle | Xemavor | BYU | MB | Jr. | Big 12 |
| Jalyn | Stout | Coastal Carolina | S | Jr. | Sun Belt |
| Jordyn | Byrd | University of Florida | OH | RS-So. | SEC |
| Stella | Swenson | University of Minnesota | S | RS-Fr. | Big Ten |
| Gabi | Placide | University of Mississippi | OH | Jr. | SEC |
| Rebekah | Allick | University of Nebraska | MB | Sr. | Big Ten |
| Favor | Anyanwu | SMU | OH | So. | ACC |
| Jadyn | Livings | SMU | RS | So. | ACC |
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Illini
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 3, Illinois 0
Wednesday, October 29
Highlights: Gophers 2, Purdue 3
Sunday, October 26
Highlights: Gophers 3, Indiana 1
Friday, October 24