HICKORY, N.C. - For the ninth consecutive year, the Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team has earned an AVCA Team Academic Award. The Bears maintained a 3.72 team GPA over the course of the 2024-25 season, tied for the best athletic program GPA at Lenoir-Rhyne last year. 

To be granted this award, the team has to have maintained a year-long GPA of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. In total, a record 1,450 collegiate and high school volleyball teams maintained a GPA of at least a 3.3 (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).

"We're incredibly proud of our team for earning the AVCA Academic Award, which stems from one of our core goals of always having a high team GPA," said Head Coach Nicole Barringer. "This recognition reflects the hard word and dedication our athletes consistently show in the classroom. Academic success is always a top priority for our team and we're committed to maintaining that standard year after year."

The Bears will begin their season in Hickory on Friday-Saturday, September 5th-6th, with the Lenoir-Rhyne Season Opening Invitational. They face off against Lees-McRae on Friday before taking on Mount Olive and Florida Tech on Saturday. Conference play opens with a home matchup against Anderson on Tuesday, September 16th.