Information courtesy of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). 

The 2025-26 school year proved to be yet another academically dominant year, as 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams maintained a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale) to earn the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

Teams that have received the award for 10 or more years are highlighted on the list of honorees for their consistent commitment to academics.

The additional distinction of the Team Academic Honor Roll celebrates programs in the top 20% of GPAs for their division.

Mid-American Conference 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award Recipients:
Ball State Cardinals / Head Coach Kelli Miller-Phillips
The Ball State women's volleyball team was crowned a 2026 Team Academic Champion for NCAA Division I on Thursday (July 23), when the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual Team Academic Awards.

The Cardinals finished the 2025-26 academic year with a 3.86 grade-point average to lead all 231 NCAA Division I programs to earn the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award. Overall, 1,432 collegiate and high school teams were honored this season.

Along with its national-leading team GPA, 11 of Ball State's 13 countable student-athletes maintained at least a 3.50 GPA while on the team's roster in 2025-26, with Gwen Crull, Lindsey Green, Sophie Ledbetter, Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort all bosting perfect 4.00 GPAs.

The AVCA Team Academic Award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs which display excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

Ball State, which will be looking for its sixth postseason bid in nine seasons, opens its 2026 home slate Thursday, Aug. 20 with a 7 p.m. exhibition match versus UIndy.

In addition, the Cardinals will play 10 regular-season matches in Worthen Arena during the upcoming season, looking to build upon its 332-104 (.761) all-time record in the venue.


Bowling Green Falcons / Head Coach Alex DelPiombo
For the 26th consecutive year and 27th total year, the Bowling Green Volleyball program has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. To qualify, teams must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher.

BGSU's 26-year streak is tied for the second-longest in Division I with Toledo and behind only Indiana State (28 years). Overall, this award marked the 26th in program history for the Falcons, ranking third among NCAA Division I programs. Indiana State and Morehead State are tied for the most with 28 awards. 

As a team, the Falcons posted a cumulative GPA of 3.776 with 14 student-athletes making the Dean's List and nine posting a 4.000 term GPA in the spring. 

Bowling Green will open the 2026 season on Aug. 28 against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Jim Stone Challenge. The Falcons will also face Northern Kentucky and Fresno State that weekend in Columbus. From there, the Orange and Brown will return home for the first time this year, hosting the Best Western Invitational on Sept. 4 and 5. The matches for Bowling Green will include Arkansas State at 1 p.m. on Sept. 4, American at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 and Northern Kentucky at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5. 


Buffalo Bulls / Head Coach Scott Smith
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that the University at Buffalo volleyball program was one of more than 1,432 college and high school programs that have earned the USMC/AVCA Academic Award for the 2025-26 season. This marks the program's seventh consecutive year earning this honor.

As a team, the Bulls finished with a 3.39 GPA this past season.

"I am especially proud of what this group has done both in the classroom and on the court," stated Head Coach Scott Smith.

The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale.


Eastern Michigan Eagles / Head Coach Kevin Foeman
For the 22nd-consecutive academic year, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball program has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, the association announced Thursday, July 23.
 
Eastern volleyball continued its tradition of academic excellence as its 22-year streak stands as the third-longest in NCAA Division I. Moreover, it is one of five NCAA Division I programs to earn the award for at least 26 academic years along with fellow Mid-American Conference institutions Bowling Green and Toledo. To make the list, teams were required to maintain a year-long GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).
 
For the first time in program history, the team landed on the AVCA Honor Roll, as its program-record 3.811 cumulative GPA lands inside the top 20% of Division I programs.
 
The team's 3.811 cumulative GPA ranks first among EMU women's programs. Most recently in the 2026 winter semester, the team posted a semester-record 3.832 with 19 Eagles recording at least a 3.00 and six notching a perfect 4.00.  
 
Several Green & White student-athletes earned individual academic honors as the Eagles landed a conference-best eight on the Academic All-MAC list, Dec. 15, including returning student-athletes Taeley Mahler and Surabhi Srinivasan. EMU's eight honorees are its most since at least 2005.
 
Furthermore, four Eagles, including Srinivasan, garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, Dec. 16, recording GPAs of at least 3.50 while competing in 90% of the team's contests.
 

Kent State Golden Flashes / Head Coach Haley Eckerman
The Kent State volleyball program has been recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for outstanding achievement in the classroom during the 2025-26 academic year with Team Academic Honor Roll distinction, as the organization announced recipients on Thursday.

Additionally, the Golden Flashes earned the Team Academic Award for the 16th time in program history. This is the first year the program was named to the Team Academic Honor Roll, which celebrates programs in the top 20 percent for their division.


Miami RedHawks / Head Coach Dan Gwitt
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams earned the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award by maintaining a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale). Miami University was among the honored recipients.

The RedHawks boasted a team GPA of 3.61 for the 2025-26 school year to qualify.


Ohio Bobcats / Head Coach Kenzie Brinkman
More information coming soon...


Toledo Rockets / Head Coach Brian Wright
The Toledo women's volleyball program has earned its 26^th-straight AVCA Team Academic Award, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced on Thursday.

The AVCA honored 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams who maintained a year-long grade-point average of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or a 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.

Toledo (26), Bowling Green (26) and Indiana State (28) are the only three NCAA Division I schools that have won the AVCA Team Academic Award for at least 26-consecutive seasons.

The Rockets posted a 3.723 team GPA in the 2026 spring semester and placed five student-athletes on the Academic All-MAC Team following the program's first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Junior outside hitter Olivia Heitkamp and reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Grace Freiberger earned College Sport Communicators Academic All-District honors following the 2025 season.

Toledo will open its 2026 season Aug. 28-29 with the Rocket Invitational Presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott Toledo. The Rockets will face Bradley on the first day at 6:00 p.m. followed by Binghamton (Noon) and Oakland (7:00 p.m.) on the second day.


Western Michigan Broncos / Head Coach Colleen Munson
The Western Michigan volleyball program has received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2025-26 academic year. It marks the seventh consecutive year the Broncos have achieved the honor.
 
Initiated during the 1992-93 academic year, the AVCA Team Academic Award honors volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
 
Western Michigan owned a 3.56 cumulative GPA to earn the Team Academic Award for the seventh consecutive season and the 13th time overall, 12 of which have come under head coach Colleen Munson. Last fall, the Broncos tied for the conference lead with eight student-athletes named Academic All-MAC, with Reeghan Boyer, Mary Clare Brusek, Elana Erickson, Amanda Glanton, Maddie Kmetz, Annalise Patchett, Carley Piercefield and Leah Richmond all earning the honor.
 
Additionally, WMU had four (Boyer, Brusek, Glanton and Richmond) receive College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team accolades.