A final push for honors
Kennedy Martin is entering her senior season at Penn State with a clear goal in mind: earning more recognition for her standout volleyball skills. Already a three-time All-American, she’s been named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List this year. Only 30 players across the country made the list, highlighting her national standing among the sport's best.
During the 2025 season, Martin had a stellar performance, racking up 634 kills and averaging 6.22 points per set. She led the Big Ten in total kills and finished in the Top 3 nationally in both total kills and kills per set. Her overall impact was undeniable, with her points per set ranking second in the country.
Strong support from the coaching staff
The Big Ten coaching staff showed strong faith in Martin’s abilities, choosing her unanimously for the preseason all-conference team. This recognition underscores her importance to the program and her expected dominance in the upcoming season. She’ll now be working with a new setter, Alexis Stucky, who transferred from Florida. Stucky’s familiarity with Martin’s style, due to their shared time at Florida, could be a big boost for Penn State.
Stucky will step in for former setter Addie Lyon, who played a key role in Martin’s success during the 2025 season. With a revamped roster, Martin is expected to continue as the top target for the setter, but she won’t have to shoulder the entire team’s offensive pressure alone.
A chance to shine late in the year
The AVCA will add more players to the Player of the Year Watch List in October, giving rising stars a chance to enter the conversation. In November, the semifinalists will be revealed, and by December, the three finalists will be named. This timeline gives Martin and her peers a full season to prove their worth.
The final award will be announced at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Dec. 18. Last year, Pittsburgh’s Olivia Babcock was named the Player of the Year after making it to the semifinals, where she joined Martin. Now, it’s Martin’s turn to compete for the top honor in the sport.