ST. LOUIS, Mo. – As the team prepares to return to campus for the upcoming year, the Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team is still receiving awards for the 2025-26 academic year. The American Volleyball Coaches Association has named the Bears as honorees of the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award, as announced by the organization this week.

The award is given to teams that excel not just on the court but also in the classroom. The team, as a whole, must maintain at least a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale to earn the award. WashU finished the 2025-26 academic year with a team GPA of 3.52.

This marks the 11th-straight year that the Bears have been a recipient of the award.

Last fall, the Bears finished with a 24-9 overall record, including a 5-2 record in the UAA, advancing to the UAA Championship match. Earning a selection into the NCAA Div. III National tournament, WashU opened with wins over the College of Saint Benedict (3-0) and Dubuque (3-0) and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.

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Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu.