Louisville volleyball’s national profile continues to rise as middle blocker Cara Cresse and outside hitter Chloe Chicoine both earned spots on the 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List, the association announced Thursday morning.
Cresse and Chicoine are two of 30 players selected from 20 schools, and Louisville is one of just nine programs nationally with multiple representatives on the list. Their inclusion underscores the Cardinals’ standing among the sport’s elite as the 2025 season approaches.
Chloe Chicoine: Immediate Impact Transfer
A January transfer from Purdue, Chicoine brings impressive credentials to the Cardinals. This summer, she was named to the 2025 U.S. Women’s U23 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Mexico.
Last season at Purdue, she started all 34 matches, finishing second on the team with 363 kills and a .220 hitting percentage, plus 348 digs. Her 3.08 kills and 2.95 digs per set were both second on the squad, and she added 19 aces and 33 blocks. Chicoine also earned All-Big Ten Second Team and AVCA All-Region First Team honors in 2024.
Cara Cresse: National Leader on the Block
Cresse, a consistent force in the front row, ranked seventh nationally in blocks per set (1.50) last year. She made 177 total blocks, led the team with 192 kills, and hit .323 on the season. Her 2024 honors included AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA All-South Region, and All-ACC Second Team, and she was also a standout in the classroom as a repeat Academic All-ACC selection.
Cardinals in the National Conversation
The AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee manages the Player of the Year process, updating the watch list midseason, naming semifinalists in November, and finalists in December. The winner will be announced Dec. 19 at the AVCA Awards Banquet in Kansas City.
With two players on the watch list, Louisville again finds itself among the nation’s top volleyball programs—a status confirmed by both individual accolades and team success. The Cardinals are set to open the 2025 season as strong contenders, with Cresse and Chicoine leading the way.
