The Best Volleyball Player in the 
Power Five Conferences

Who Was The Best Volleyball Player 
in Each of the Top Five Conferences in Division I?


To be the best volleyball player in the top five conferences in Division I means you have reached the top level of competition in NCAA women's volleyball. 

These few chosen players receive multiple in-season weekly awards, are ranked at the top of  national statistical categories and most importantly are voted on by conference coaches and sports information directors to receive postseason honors like "Player of the Year" and other awards, in the conference and nationally. 

The Power 5 conferences are the top most competitive conferences in Division I which year after year recruit the very best players to attend their schools and play for their teams.  

The Power 5 Division I Conferences are:

Atlantic Coast Conference


The ACC has 15 schools that participate in the NCAA Division I volleyball season. They are 

  • Miami
  • Florida State
  • Duke
  • Pittsburgh
  • NC State
  • North Carolina
  • Wake Forest
  • Syracuse
  • Georgia Tech
  • Louisville
  • Notre Dame
  • Clemson
  • Virginia
  • Boston College 
  • Virginia Tech


Big 12 Conference


The Big 12 Conference has 10 schools that participate in the NCAA Division I volleyball season. They are

  • Baylor
  • Indiana State
  • Kansas
  • Kansas State
  • Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma State
  • TCU
  • Texas
  • Texas Tech
  • West Virginia


Big Ten Conference


The Big Ten Conference has 14 schools that participate in the NCAA Division I volleyball season. They are:

  • Iowa
  • Indiana
  • Penn State
  • Minnesota
  • Michigan
  • Michigan State
  • Nebraska
  • Northwestern
  • Ohio State
  • Purdue
  • Rutgers
  • Wisconsin


Pac 12 Conference


The Pac 12 Conference has 12 schools that participate in the NCAA Division I volleyball season. They are:

  • Washington
  • Utah
  • Stanford
  • USC
  • UCLA
  • Washington State
  • Colorado
  • Oregon
  • Arizona
  • Arizona State
  • Oregon State
  • California Berkeley


Southeastern Conference


The Southeastern Conference has 13 schools that participate in the NCAA Division I volleyball season. They are:

  • Kentucky
  • Auburn
  • Florida
  • South Carlina
  • Arkansas
  • LSU
  • Georgia
  • Tennessee
  • Ole Miss
  • Missouri
  • Alabama
  • Mississippi State
  • Texas A&M


The Best Volleyball Player in the Atlantic Coast Conference


Player of the Year: Taylor Leath is the best volleyball player in the ACC. 

In 2016 Taylor was voted as the best volleyball player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 








The Best Volleyball Player in the                Big 12 Conference


Player of the Year: Kelsie Payne of Kansas is the best volleyball player in the Big 12.   

Payne is the Player of the Year after helping lead the Jayhawks to their first Big 12 title in 2016

Ranked in the top three in kills (4.07 per set) and points (4.77) during 2016 conference action
















The Best Volleyball Player in the Big Ten Conference


Player of the Year:  Sarah Wilhite, Minnesota

  • In 2016 Sarah was voted as the best volleyball player in the Big Ten Conference. 

The Golden Gophers’ Sarah Wilhite was named the Big Ten Player of the Year by a vote of the conference’s coaches. 

  • a unanimous All-Big Ten selection, 
  • finished second in the Big Ten in kills per set (4.13) during conference play. 
  • has registered 11 double-doubles. Wilhite is the fifth player in Minnesota history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year





















The Best Volleyball Player in the Pac 12 Conference


Player of the Year:  Courtney Schwan, Washington Jr., OH

In 2016 Courtney was voted as the best volleyball player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Schwan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10 and Nov. 28. 

Ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in kills (3.76) and seventh in points per set (4.13). 

Helped Washington average 14.27 kills per set, which ranks 19th in the country. 

Schwan also makes her first-career appearance on the All-Pac-12 team






















The Best Volleyball Player in the Southeastern Conference


The best volleyball player in the SEC:       Krystal Rivers, Alabama Sr., OPP

Krystal Rivers, a senior right side hitter at Alabama, was selected as the 2016 SEC  Volleyball Player of the Year. 

  • First time a member of the Crimson Tide program has won this honor. 
  • In 2016 ranked second in the nation in total kills with 640, and third in kills per set (5.77), points per set (6.57) and total points (729.5). 
  • Named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week four times
  • Named the SEC Player of the Week twice during the 2016 season
  • Chosen as the 2015 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, marking the first time a student-athlete was named Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season


  • The first player from Alabama to be named Scholar-Athlete of the Year since the first award was given to Erin Price in 2003. 
  • A two-time honoree on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and the SEC Academic Honor Roll






  • Named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2014
  • A six-time honoree on the Dean's List and a two-time honoree on the President's List




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