University Southern California Trojans
USC’s Layli Ostovar Named Gatorade California Player of the Year
January 09, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
The incoming pin-hitter is the 15th Trojan to earn the Gatorade State Player of the Year honor and is the fourth from California
CHICAGO – Incoming freshman USC women's volleyball outside hitter Layli Ostovar (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) was named the 2025-26 Gatorade California Volleyball Player of the Year on Friday, Jan. 9.
In its 41st year celebrating the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade announced Ostovar of Mater Dei High School for its top honor in high school sports. The award celebrates the nation's best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics, and community.
Ostovar joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as USC All-American and three-time Olympic medalist April Ross (1999-00, Newport Harbor High School, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh Jennings (1995-96, Archbishop Mitty High School, Calif.). Ostovar is now eligible to be chosen for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, which has been bestowed upon several former Women of Troy including Ross, All-Big Ten OH Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), and All-American OH Khalia Lanier (2015-16).
Ostovar is the 15th Trojan to receive the Gatorade state player of the year honor and is the fourth from California. Among other Trojans who have earned the award for the state of California are setter Mia Tuaniga (2019-20), OH Jessica Gysin (2002-03), and Ross (1999-2000).
USC players who have won the award from other states include from Arizona, Jordan Wilson (2020-21, 21-22), Lanier (2015-16) and Alicia Robinson (2000-01); from Indiana, Lauryn Gillis (2012-13) and Katelyn Bishop (2003-04); from Kansas, Reese Messer (2024-25); from Kentucky, Paige Hammons (2016-17); from Nebraska, Raegan LeGrand (2015-16); from Texas, Batenhorst (2020-21), and Sara Shaw (2009-10); and from Washington, Alexis Olgard (2009-10),
Ostovar—a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter—led the Monarchs to a 35-5 record and the Open Division state tournament championships this past season. She recorded 312 kills and 229 digs, including a 15-kill, eight-dig effort in Mater Dei's 3-0 win over Rocklin High School in the Open Division state final. An AVCA first-team All-America selection, Ostovar also compiled 37 blocks and 25 service aces while posting a .399 kill percentage. A two-time Orange County Player of the Year, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,168 kills and 871 digs.
Off the court, Ostovar has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit breast cancer research. She has also donated her time as a youth volleyball coach and with HopeWalks, which raises awareness for children born with clubfoot.
Ostovar has maintained a 3.55 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play volleyball at the University of Southern California in the fall of 2026.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year.
From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners in each sport.
As part of Gatorade's commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations.
The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
In its 41st year celebrating the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade announced Ostovar of Mater Dei High School for its top honor in high school sports. The award celebrates the nation's best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics, and community.
Ostovar joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as USC All-American and three-time Olympic medalist April Ross (1999-00, Newport Harbor High School, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh Jennings (1995-96, Archbishop Mitty High School, Calif.). Ostovar is now eligible to be chosen for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, which has been bestowed upon several former Women of Troy including Ross, All-Big Ten OH Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), and All-American OH Khalia Lanier (2015-16).
Ostovar is the 15th Trojan to receive the Gatorade state player of the year honor and is the fourth from California. Among other Trojans who have earned the award for the state of California are setter Mia Tuaniga (2019-20), OH Jessica Gysin (2002-03), and Ross (1999-2000).
USC players who have won the award from other states include from Arizona, Jordan Wilson (2020-21, 21-22), Lanier (2015-16) and Alicia Robinson (2000-01); from Indiana, Lauryn Gillis (2012-13) and Katelyn Bishop (2003-04); from Kansas, Reese Messer (2024-25); from Kentucky, Paige Hammons (2016-17); from Nebraska, Raegan LeGrand (2015-16); from Texas, Batenhorst (2020-21), and Sara Shaw (2009-10); and from Washington, Alexis Olgard (2009-10),
Ostovar—a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter—led the Monarchs to a 35-5 record and the Open Division state tournament championships this past season. She recorded 312 kills and 229 digs, including a 15-kill, eight-dig effort in Mater Dei's 3-0 win over Rocklin High School in the Open Division state final. An AVCA first-team All-America selection, Ostovar also compiled 37 blocks and 25 service aces while posting a .399 kill percentage. A two-time Orange County Player of the Year, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,168 kills and 871 digs.
Off the court, Ostovar has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit breast cancer research. She has also donated her time as a youth volleyball coach and with HopeWalks, which raises awareness for children born with clubfoot.
Ostovar has maintained a 3.55 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play volleyball at the University of Southern California in the fall of 2026.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year.
From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners in each sport.
As part of Gatorade's commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations.
The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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