UMBC Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award, Continuing Tradition of Excellence in the Classroom
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County women’s volleyball program continues to prove that success is measured by more than wins and losses.
The UMBC Retrievers were recognized with the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, honoring programs that maintained a minimum 3.30 cumulative team GPA throughout the 2025-26 academic year. UMBC finished with an outstanding 3.69 team GPA, earning national recognition for its commitment to academic excellence.
The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the most respected academic honors in collegiate volleyball. During the 2025-26 school year, 1,432 high school and college volleyball teams across the country met the GPA requirement, demonstrating the growing emphasis on balancing athletics with academics.
For UMBC, this recognition reflects the culture that has been built within the volleyball program. Student-athletes are expected to excel in the classroom while competing at the NCAA Division I level in the America East Conference. Maintaining a team GPA well above the award threshold is no small accomplishment given the demands of travel, practices, strength training, and a full academic schedule.
The honor also comes as the Retrievers continue to establish themselves as one of Maryland’s premier volleyball programs. Over the past several seasons, UMBC has been among the top teams in the America East, earning multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances while building a reputation for developing complete student-athletes.
Why It Matters
Academic awards often receive less attention than championships, but they speak directly to the mission of college athletics. Graduating student-athletes prepared for careers after volleyball is a major goal for every NCAA program, and UMBC continues to set a high standard.
A 3.69 team GPA illustrates the commitment made by the players, coaching staff, academic support personnel, and university faculty to helping the Retrievers succeed both on and off the court.
MSB Take
Maryland has quietly become home to several outstanding volleyball programs, and UMBC continues to be one of the state’s leaders. National academic recognition like this reinforces that the Retrievers are building a program centered on excellence in every aspect of the student-athlete experience.
Championships are remembered, but so are graduates who leave campus prepared for successful careers. This latest AVCA honor shows UMBC is accomplishing both goals, making the Retrievers a program Maryland sports fans should continue to follow closely.
