The UIS volleyball team has been recognized for its success in the classroom, earning the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The Prairie Stars also received AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll distinction, placing among the top 20 percent of team grade-point averages nationally within NCAA Division II.

UIS posted a 3.72 team GPA during the 2025-26 academic year to earn both honors.

The AVCA Team Academic Award recognizes collegiate volleyball programs that maintain a year-long team GPA of 3.30 or higher. A total of 1,432 programs across all levels of volleyball received the award for the 2025-26 academic year.

For UIS, the recognition marks the program's 10th AVCA Team Academic Award overall and its fifth consecutive year receiving the honor. The Prairie Stars also earned AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll recognition for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2022.

The award continues a longstanding tradition of academic excellence for the Prairie Stars, who have consistently ranked among the top-performing programs in the classroom while competing at a high level on the court.

For more information about the AVCA Team Academic Award, visit the AVCA website.