HONOLULU – Hawaiʻi Pacific University's women's volleyball and women's beach volleyball programs have been recognized for their commitment to academic excellence, earning the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

The annual honor recognizes volleyball programs that maintain a year-long team grade-point average of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale), celebrating programs that excel both in competition and in the classroom.

HPU was among 1,432 collegiate and high school programs nationwide to receive the distinction for the 2025-26 academic year, highlighting the Sharks' continued dedication to academic achievement alongside athletic success.

"It comes as no surprise to see our sport have more than 1,400 teams earn the AVCA Team Academic Award again this season," said AVCA Chief Executive Officer Jaime Gordon. "We are grateful for the dedication of the coaches and players who make both classroom and on-court success the lifeblood of their programs."

The AVCA also recognized the continued academic accomplishments across collegiate volleyball, naming Team Academic Champions in each division while honoring programs ranking in the top 20 percent of their division with Team Academic Honor Roll distinction. This year also marked a record number of recipients in Women's Collegiate Beach Volleyball, with 43 programs earning the award.

The recognition reflects Hawaiʻi Pacific's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes who strive for excellence both academically and athletically. The women's volleyball and beach volleyball programs continue to represent the Sharks with distinction in the classroom while competing at a high level on the court and in the sand.

The AVCA Team Academic Award is presented annually to volleyball programs that achieve the required cumulative team GPA throughout the academic year.