Foley Repeats as the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year Award Finalist for Volleyball

Juniata College graduate student Olivia Foley has been named a finalist for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year for Volleyball, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Foley is among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division III athletes across various sports. The winner will be determined through national balloting by representatives from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and announced at the end of the academic year as part of the CWSA program, now in its 49th year.

"I'm truly humbled and honored to be named a finalist for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year once again," said Foley. "I'm deeply grateful to my family, coaches, friends, and teammates, whose unwavering support and encouragement have made the unthinkable dreams become a reality. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to play the sport I've loved since childhood, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication that has brought me to this point in both my life and my recently-ended career."

A native of Coldwater, Michigan, Foley has been instrumental in Juniata's volleyball success. She led her team to its third consecutive NCAA DIII Volleyball Championship title and earned a spot on the Championship All-Tournament Team. Under her leadership as a setter, Juniata achieved a second straight undefeated season, finishing with a perfect 35-0 record and extending their incredible winning streak to 97 consecutive matches. Foley graduates with an impressive career record of 136-3.

Recently, Foley was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) DIII Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Her accolades also include being a two-time AVCA First-Team All-American and a four-time Landmark All-Conference First-Team honoree. In her final season, she was recognized as the 2024 Landmark Player of the Year.

Foley has had an extraordinary season recording 967 assists, 232 digs, 45 kills, 30 aces, and 21 blocks. She leads the nation with 12.03 assists per set, while her team ranks second nationally with a .317 hitting percentage and first in kills per set at 14.40.

All finalists for the DIII and DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be honored during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network in June in New York City.

"Olivia is a wonderful all-around volleyball and an exceptional setter who has continued to get better each and every year," stated head coach Heather Pavlik. "She has been the starting setter for our team for four years and within those years has been a part of 4 Final Four teams and three National Championship teams.  She is a tremendous competitor who plays her best in the biggest moments.  She has now capped off her career with her 2nd National POY award and set her team to three-peat with National Championships. Her grit, work ethic and competitiveness are the qualities that every coach would love to have in their starting setter and our program and school have certainly benefitted in so many ways because Olivia chose to study and play here at Juniata.  Our program and the Juniata community in general are all very excited for Olivia to have this opportunity to be a Honda Award finalist."

The Honda Sport Award recognizes student-athletes in 11 NCAA-sanctioned sports, including cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

Now in its 49th year, the CWSA honors the nation's top female collegiate athletes for their exceptional athletic performance, leadership, academic achievements, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has awarded over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women's athletics at universities across the country.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda's mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life's potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community.