The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball program has been recognized as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award and has earned a spot on the AVCA's Team Academic Honor Roll.
 
It marks the 20th time overall and 13th straight year the Bearcats have been honored with the AVCA Team Academic Award. Teams maintained a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale), to earn the AVCA Team Academic Award
 
It is the eighth time Northwest has recorded the distinction of the Team Academic Honor Roll, given to programs that rank in the top 20 percent of the nation. The additional distinction of Team Academic Honor Roll celebrates programs in the top 20% of GPAs for their division. Northwest has gained the Team Academic Honor Roll in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The Bearcat volleyball team, under the direction of 15th-year head coach Amy Woerth, recorded a 3.87 cumulative team grade point average during the 2025-26 season.

Volleyball programs from across the country continue to enjoy widespread success off the court as 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams earned the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award by maintaining a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).
 
"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 CEO 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."