WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's volleyball team continues to set the standard in the classroom as well as on the court, earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 11th consecutive year.

In addition to the national academic award, the Hilltoppers were also named to the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, an elite distinction reserved for programs ranking in the top 20% of GPAs by division. This marks the seventh time in the past eight years that West Liberty has received Honor Roll recognition—further underscoring the program's consistent excellence in academics.

"I am so honored to lead such a dedicated group of individuals both on and off the court," said head coach Makenzy Johnson. "This is a very deserving group of student-athletes and I am so proud of their commitment to their academic and athletic success!"

The Hilltoppers posted an impressive 3.74 team GPA for the 2024-2025 academic year, well above the award threshold. West Liberty was among 1,450 collegiate and high school programs nationwide to earn the AVCA Team Academic Award, which recognizes teams that maintain a year-long GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

WLU was one of just three programs from the Mountain East Conference (MEC) to receive this year's AVCA academic award, once again setting the program apart as a leader in academic success within the league.

The AVCA Team Academic Award, sponsored by INTENT, is one of the most respected academic honors in the sport of volleyball, celebrating the dedication of student-athletes and coaches who prioritize academic achievement alongside athletic excellence.