The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 2 Volleyball's Stafford and Spears named to AVCA Player of the Year watch list
10.03.2025 | Volleyball
Cari Spears joins the list as the lone true freshman.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 2 Texas Volleyball's Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears were named to the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) National Player of the Year Watch List for Division I women's volleyball, presented by Nike Volleyball on Friday.
Spears was added to the list with her teammate Stafford who appeared on the preseason watch list from a total of 28 different schools. The additional preseason watch list was compiled by the AVCA Division I Women's Volleyball Awards Committee. The list of semifinalists will be announced in November, and the finalists will be announced in December. The Player of the Year will be announced in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Dec. 19.
Stafford leads the team in kills (163) and service aces (15), while also registering six double doubles in 11 matches. She's been named AVCA Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week & Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. Spears is second in kills with 144 and has earned three SEC Freshman Player of the Week honors, was a two-time SEC Player of the Week and earned one AVCA Player of the Week award. Stafford was a AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist for the award last year.
