Kassie O’Brien Named 2025 AVCA National Freshman of the Year

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Volleyball setter Kassie O’Brien was named the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association National Freshman of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday by the association. O’Brien becomes the first Kentucky player ever to be named national freshman of the year by the AVCA.

O’Brien was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year last month after steering the Wildcats to a 15-0 SEC record, outright championship, and the 2025 SEC Volleyball Tournament title while also being voted first team all-conference. The freshman from Katy, Texas is averaging 11.02 assists per set on the season and in the NCAA Tournament is averaging a sensational 13.15 assists per set while leading the Kentucky offense to the tune of a .345 hitting efficiency number in postseason play this season.

O’Brien’s 1,190 assists puts her on the precious of entering the top-10 for Kentucky in a single-season assists number as she needs 28 more to pass Emma Grome’s 1,218 from 2021. In the NCAA Tournament alone, O’Brien has dished out 171 assists with three digs per set and 0.54 blocks per set in UK’s four matches with all seven blocks coming as block assists.

She was also named as a second-team AVCA All-American on Wednesday morning, becoming the first UK player to be named as an AVCA All-American in her freshman season since Emma Grome in 2021.

Kentucky has advanced to the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Final Four and will play Wisconsin on Thursday night at approximately 9 p.m. ET on ESPN for a spot in the national championship match. Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George and Madison Fitzpatrick will have the call for ESPN from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

For the latest on UK Volleyball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB.