Official AVCA Release

TACOMA, Wash. — For the eighth consecutive season, the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad was recognized for outstanding success in the classroom, earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

"I'm excited that our student-athletes continue to excel on the court and in the classroom," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"They exemplify what it means to be a Lute and are models for what it means to be a true student-athlete."

A total of 1,450 collegiate and high school volleyball teams were honored with the award, including four of the seven Northwest Conference institutions. To be recognized, teams had to compile a year-long grade point average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

This is the eighth consecutive year the Lutes have earned AVCA Team Academic honors, the longest streak in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran has won the award 10 times overall and nine times since the 2015 campaign. Winning the honor for the seventh straight year was University of Puget Sound while Whitman College earns the distinction for the sixth consecutive season. Lewis & Clark College rounds out the conference award winners.

The Lutes finished the 2024 campaign with a 19-8 overall record and a 13-3 mark in conference action. PLU compiled an impressive 8-1 record inside Olson Gymnasium last fall and advanced to the NWC Tournament Finals for the second straight year.

PLU opens the 2025 season on August 29 against Southwestern University and begins its home slate on Friday, Sept. 12 against Columbia Bible College.