LEXINGTON, Ky. — Utah Valley women's volleyball earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2025-26 academic year, the organization announced Thursday. It marks the ninth consecutive season the Wolverines have received the honor and the 14th time overall.
 
The Wolverines also finished among the top 20% of all NCAA Division I women's volleyball programs academically, earning the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll distinction for the third time in program history and the first time since the 2020-21 season.
 
"This year tested us in ways we never expected, but through every challenge, our team chose perseverance over excuses," Utah Valley head coach Sam Atoa said. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together. Their hard work, determination and commitment to academic excellence inspire me every day."
 
Utah Valley posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.71, well above the AVCA's minimum requirement of a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the full 2025-26 academic year.
 
The Wolverines also earned several academic honors during the year. Four student-athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Lani Matavao, Evalyn Medaris, Avery Page and Bella Wooden. In addition, 11 Wolverines received Academic All-WAC recognition as Utah Valley continued to excel in the classroom.
 
"It comes as no surprise to see our sport have more than 1,400 teams earn the AVCA Team Academic Award again this season," AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon said. "We are grateful for the dedication of the coaches and players who make both classroom and on-court success the lifeblood of their programs."
 
Utah Valley was one of 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams to receive the award. Several opponents on the Wolverines' 2025 schedule also earned the distinction, including programs from both the Western Athletic Conference and the Big West Conference, which will become Utah Valley volleyball's new conference home.