Five Players to Watch during the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Season
As the volleyball season approaches, talented underclassman strive to bring their game to a higher level.
With the 2025 NCAA volleyball season around the corner, 5wins is looking at five players who could step up and lead their teams.
Izzy Starck - Penn State, Setter, Sophomore
The AVCA Freshman of the Year in 2024 was a huge reason why the Penn State Nittany Lions won the 2024 NCAA volleyball championship. She was an elite quarterback for the Penn State offense and named a Second Team All-American. She’s not only one of the top setters in the Big Ten, but in the entire game, and when she’s on her game, she’s a true weapon for the Nittany Lions. If Starck can play as well as she did her freshman year, Penn State is on track to see similar successes; if she plays even better, her name may become synonymous with the sport.
Torrey Stafford - Texas, Outside Hitter, Junior
Stafford was expected to continue as a 1-2 punch with AVCA Player of the Year, Olivia Babcock, at Pittsburgh, but transferred to Texas in the offseason. As a First-Team All-American, Stafford’s move is a loss for Pittsburgh, which has appeared in four consecutive national semifinals. It is, however, a boon for Texas, who hope to return to the top ten this year. It’s unclear as to exactly why Stafford left. NIL may have played a role. Texas is one of the schools with the biggest NIL wallets in the country. But whatever the reason, Stafford is certain to be a game-changer for Texas, and her absence is certain to be felt by Pittsburgh too.
Andi Jackson - Nebraska, Middle Blocker, Junior
It’s hard to list all the ways Jackson has made an impact for Nebraska. As a sophomore, the middle blocker was named First Team All-American. Last season she averaged 2.62 kills per set on a .439 hitting percentage, which was 6th nationally in 2024 and 4th in Cornhusker history. Jackson is so good that, at the culmination of her last college season, her high school retired her jersey. Nebraska is always a top contender in the world of women’s volleyball, and Jackson is a crucial piece of Nebraska’s plan to make it all the way this upcoming season.
Elia Rubin - Stanford, Outside Hitter, Senior
Rubin is known just as well for her academics as her athletics. In 2024, she earned CSC Academic All-America Second Team and First Team All-American honors. Last year she became the 23rd player in program history to register 1,000 kills. She brings not only talent on the court but also leadership abilities and veteran experience to Stanford, which could help guide the Cardinal back to the mountain top.
Brooklyn DeLeye - Kentucky, Outside Hitter, Junior
When DeLeye earned the SEC Player of the Year award in 2024, she was the sixth Kentucky Wildcat in seven years to earn this award. DeLeye comes from a powerhouse program, so the fact that she has been able to stand out within it speaks to her talents. The outside hitter earned First Team All-American honors last year, after registering 4.74 kills per set and a .282 hitting percentage in the 2024 season. She’s already a massively high achiever, but with two years of experience under her belt, she’s expected to push her own potential this year as Kentucky looks for its second national title.