LEXINGTON, Ky. — Volleyball programs from across the country continue to enjoy widespread success off the court as 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).

This is the second season the AVCA has named a Team Academic Champion for each collegiate division. The 20 programs are being named to this exclusive list based on having the highest GPAs in their respective divisions. The AVCA also celebrates programs in the top 20 percent for their division by recognizing them with the Team Academic Honor Roll distinction.

Ithaca College was honored for the 14th time in the past 16 years and the Bombers were also recognized on the Team Academic Honor Roll.

The Team Academic was earned by 10 teams that also won national collegiate championships on the court and in the sand during the 2025–26 season. There are also four schools whose women's, men's, and beach teams are all being honored: Barry University, Pepperdine University, Stanford University, and University of Hawai'i.