LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 24, 2026) — The Lubbock Christian University volleyball program received a pair of national academic honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, earning the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award and a place on the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award Honor Roll.
LCU completed the 2025-26 academic year with a 3.74 cumulative team grade-point average, surpassing the 3.3 GPA required to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award. The Lady Chaparrals also ranked among the top 20% of NCAA Division II women's volleyball programs academically to secure the additional Honor Roll distinction.
The AVCA Team Academic Award recognizes collegiate and high school volleyball programs that maintain a yearlong GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale. A total of 1,432 programs received the award for the 2025-26 school year.
The Team Academic Honor Roll further recognizes the programs producing one of the top 20% of team GPAs within their respective divisions. LCU was one of 32 NCAA Division II women's programs named to the 2026 Honor Roll.
The recognition marks the sixth AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll selection in program history and the fourth in the past five seasons. LCU also earned Honor Roll recognition following the 2024-25 academic year, when the Lady Chaps posted a 3.73 team GPA.
LCU has now received the AVCA Team Academic Award 17 times overall since the honor was created during the 1992-93 academic year. The 2026 award is the program's 12th while competing at the NCAA Division II level, along with five honors earned during its NAIA era.
The academic distinction follows a historic season on the court. The Lady Chaparrals finished the 2025 campaign with a 25-8 overall record, captured the first Lone Star Conference regular-season championship in program history and earned their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
LCU's combination of academic and competitive success places the program among the nation's most accomplished NCAA Division II volleyball teams from the 2025-26 school year. Metropolitan State University of Denver, which won the NCAA Division II national championship, was also among the programs receiving both the Team Academic Award and Honor Roll recognition.
The AVCA Team Academic Award was established to honor volleyball programs that demonstrate excellence in the classroom throughout the academic year. Teams receiving the award for at least 10 years are also recognized by the association for their sustained commitment to academic achievement.
