LEXINGTON, Ky. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced on Wednesday that the Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team has received the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 23rd consecutive season.
 
The Golden Bears have earned the honor in each of their 23 seasons under head coach Brady Starkey. CSP's streak of 23 consecutive seasons trails only Wayne State (Neb.)'s streak of 24 in a row at the NCAA Division II level.
 
The 2025-26 school year proved to be yet another academically dominant year, as 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball 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 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award.

"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."

The Golden Bears will open the 2026 campaign in just over a month on Friday, August 28 when they take on Gannon (Pa.) and Missouri St. Louis at the Cedarville Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio.