Four Kentucky VB players named All-Americans, O'Brien tabbed as Freshman of the Year

With just two more wins separating Kentucky volleyball from the program’s second national championship, a handful of Wildcats are being honored for their spectacular individual seasons.

On Wednesday morning, four different Kentucky players were named AVCA All-Americans, two of them making the First Team.

Outside hitters Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson were named First Team All-Americans, freshman setter Kassie O’Brien was tabbed to the Second Team, and libero Molly Tuozzo was recognized as a Third Team member. Kentucky’s four All-Americans are tied with Nebraska for the most in the country, one shy of the school record five All-Americans back in 2020-21. This marks the second All-American honor for DeLeye (2024) and the third for Hudson (2023, 2024 at Purdue).

On top of that, O’Brien was named the AVCA National Freshman of the Year, becoming the first UK rookie ever to take home the honors. O’Brien was also named the SEC Freshman of the Year. She is Kentucky’s first freshman All-American since Emma Grome in 2021.

Earlier this week, Hudson was listed as one of four finalists for the National Player of the Year award, which will be announced on Friday. Coach of the Year will be announced on Thursday, where Craig Skinner is surely one of the candidates.

Brooklyn DeLeye
OH / Topeka, Kansas / Junior
•    4.69 kills per set, 2.32 digs per set
•    2025 First Team All-SEC
•    SEC All-Tournament Team 

Eva Hudson
OH / Ft. Wayne, Indiana / Senior
•    4.54 kills per set, 2.42 digs per set
•    2025 SEC Player of the Year
•    AVCA South Region Player of the Year

Kassie O’Brien
S / Katy, Texas / Freshman
•    2025 AVCA National Freshman of the Year
•    11.02 assists per set
•    2025 SEC Freshman of the Year 

Molly Tuozzo
L / The Woodlands, Texas / Junior
•    3.95 digs per set
•    2025 SEC Tournament MVP
•    Second Team All-SEC

Our girls, All-Americans!🤞

⭐️Eva Hudson
⭐️Brooklyn DeLeye
⭐️Kassie O’Brien
⭐️Molly Tuozzo #WeAreUK x #BBN pic.twitter.com/eFeuo22jOj

— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) December 17, 2025

After dropping just one set through its first four NCAA Tournament matches, Kentucky is now slated to face Wisconsin in the Final Four this Thursday in Kansas City. The match will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Badgers boast a pair of All-Americans on their roster: outside hitter Mimi Colyer (First Team) and middle blocker Carter Booth (Third Team).

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