DeLeye & Hudson Both Semifinalists for AVCA National Player of the Year

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Volleyball players Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson were both named to the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association semifinalist list for 2025 National Player of the Year award, handed out annually to the best NCAA Volleyball player in the nation.

Both Hudson and DeLeye qualifying for the list makes Kentucky one of only two teams in the nation to have multiple players voted on as semifinalists for the award with Nebraska being the other.

The final two steps in the process are the announcement of the four award finalists, slated for Monday, Dec. 15, and the reveal of the Player of the Year on Friday, Dec. 19 during the AVCA Convention in Kansas City.

DeLeye is leading the Wildcats this season with a 4.77 kills per set mark and is hitting .293 with a team-high 334 kills this year. The junior from Topeka, Kansas, who was a finalist for NPOY in 2024, is also averaging 2.19 digs per set this season and is responsible for over 360 points this year for one of the nation’s best offenses.

Hudson, who is leading Kentucky in SEC kills per set in league matches only, is hitting .307 on the season with a strong 4.51 kills per set number and 316 total kills on the year. The native of Ft. Wayne, Indiana has 2.54 digs per set to her name and 0.39 blocks per set as she leads UK’s offense which is hitting at a .288 clip as a team this year.

Kentucky, ranked No. 2 in the nation, plays at Missouri on Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET before returning home to Historic Memorial Coliseum at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday for a top-25 showdown with No. 19 Tennessee on ESPN. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time with the largest home crowd of the season expected for that match.

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