University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award
7/23/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association today announced that Southern Miss volleyball is one of 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams to earn the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award for maintaining a 3.30 grade-point average or better in the 2025-26 academic year.
"I'm incredibly proud of our student-athletes for earning the AVCA Team Academic Award," said fifth-year head coach Jenny Hazelwood. This recognition reflects the hard work, discipline and commitment they bring to the classroom every day while competing at a high level in the Sun Belt Conference. Balancing excellence in academics and athletics is at the core of our program, and I couldn't be more with what this group has accomplished."
The award the 13th time in program history Southern Miss has been honored with the Team Academic Award and second time under Hazelwood. The Golden Eagles are one of 13 Sun Belt Conference programs to earn the award in 2025-26. A total of 230 Division I women's volleyball programs earned the Team Academic Award this season.
Southern Miss' Team Academic Award History
1998-99
2003-04
2004-05
2008-09
2010-11
2011-12
2014-15
2015-16
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2023-24
2025-26
About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The association's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club and youth volleyball coaches – primary in the United States. The AVCA represents women's volleyball, men's volleyball and beach volleyball coaches and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.
"I'm incredibly proud of our student-athletes for earning the AVCA Team Academic Award," said fifth-year head coach Jenny Hazelwood. This recognition reflects the hard work, discipline and commitment they bring to the classroom every day while competing at a high level in the Sun Belt Conference. Balancing excellence in academics and athletics is at the core of our program, and I couldn't be more with what this group has accomplished."
The award the 13th time in program history Southern Miss has been honored with the Team Academic Award and second time under Hazelwood. The Golden Eagles are one of 13 Sun Belt Conference programs to earn the award in 2025-26. A total of 230 Division I women's volleyball programs earned the Team Academic Award this season.
Southern Miss' Team Academic Award History
1998-99
2003-04
2004-05
2008-09
2010-11
2011-12
2014-15
2015-16
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2023-24
2025-26
About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The association's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club and youth volleyball coaches – primary in the United States. The AVCA represents women's volleyball, men's volleyball and beach volleyball coaches and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.
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