LEXINGTON, Ky. (AVCA/SMU) – Following another standout season in the classroom, SMU Volleyball has earned a 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award, the AVCA announced on Thursday.

Teams must maintain a year-long GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale to qualify for the award. The Mustangs finished the year with a 3.45 cumulative GPA in the 2025-26 academic year.

Under head coach Sam Erger, SMU has earned this award every year, and the program has done so for 10 consecutive seasons.

The 2026 season begins in a month on August 23, when the Mustangs take on defending National Champion Texas A&M in the AVCA First Serve hosted at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fans will get their first look at the complete team at the Red vs. Blue Scrimmage on August 12 at Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m.

For the full list of teams honored, head to the AVCA's website.