MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2026 Team Academic Award recipients on Tuesday afternoon. To earn the distinction, collegiate volleyball programs must maintain a year-long team grade point average of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale. Chowan University was among 1,432 programs across the country recognized for their academic success.

Entering his third season at the helm of the Hawks, Head Coach Kellan Hollingsworth has guided the program to back-to-back AVCA Team Academic Awards. The volleyball program also continues to set the standard for academic excellence at Chowan, posting the highest cumulative team GPA among the university's women's athletic programs for the second consecutive year.

The Hawks finished the 2025-26 academic year with an impressive 3.53 cumulative team GPA. Eighteen student-athletes earned Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll recognition during the fall semester, while 12 more were recognized during the spring. Seven Hawks were named to the Conference Carolinas All-Academic Team, and four earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Academic excellence has become a hallmark of the Chowan volleyball program, as the Hawks continue to excel both in the classroom and on the court. During the 2025-26 academic year, six members of the team were recognized as Outstanding Students at Chowan University's annual awards ceremony. Graduating senior Diana Rodriguez also received one of the university's highest honors, being named Chowan University's Best All-Around Student.

The Hawks continue to demonstrate that success at Chowan extends far beyond the volleyball court. With another year of outstanding academic achievement, the program remains committed to developing student-athletes who excel in the classroom, in competition, within the Chowan community, and after graduation.