LEXINGTON, Ky.  The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2026 Team Academic Awards on Thursday, with the Methodist University volleyball program earning recognition for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time overall. The Monarchs were one of 1,432 collegiate and high school teams honored for their excellence in the classroom.

Since its inception in the 1992-93 academic year, the award requires its recipients to maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).

AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon commented on this year's recipients:

"It comes as no surprise to see our sport have more than 1,400 teams earn the AVCA Team Academic Award again this season. We are grateful for the dedication of the coaches and players who make both classroom and on-court success the lifeblood of their programs."
 
About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The association's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 9,500 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches—primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women's volleyball, men's volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.