ASTON, Pa. -- For just the second time ever and first since 2006, Villanova volleyball has a PhillySIDA Performer of the Year as Abby Harrell was selected for the honor on Thursday. 

The junior joins Adrian Semrau as the only Wildcats to accomplish the feat, which Harrell earned this week after her third straight All-BIG EAST honor.

Harrell, who was chosen as First Team All-Region earlier this week, picks up her second Academic All-Area accolade in a row as she was one of seven student-athletes from area schools selected last year, but was elevated this season to the top performer in the region. 

The Washington native led Villanova in points, kills, aces and digs this year with a team-best 17 double-doubles, reaching 1,000 career terminations after VU's first 400-kill season since 2015. 

Outside of her prowess on the court, Harrell maintains a 3.78 GPA in accounting and has picked up CSC Academic All-District, BIG EAST All-Academic Team and Athletic Director's Honor Roll laurels each time eligible.

In order to be eligible for Academic All-Area, student-athletes must be in at least their second year at their current institution in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Just eight other Villanova volleyballers have ever earned mention on the list all-time with Harrell joining Semrau as the only repeat honorees. 

Harrell is the first Wildcat POY in any sport for the 2025-26 campaign, and joins five Villanovans who earned the honor in the last calendar year.