The Francis Marion University volleyball program has earned an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT for the 2024-25 school year.

This is the ninth year, and fifth consecutive, the FMU program has received this national recognition.

The AVCA presented team awards to 1,450 collegiate and high school volleyball programs nationwide.  To be eligible, a team had to maintain a yearlong grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).

Led by head coach Lauren Baufield-Edwards, this year's Patriot squad posted a team GPA of 3.561.  On the court, Francis Marion registered a 16-13 record, placed second in the East Division standings of Conference Carolinas, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

The volleyball program is one of 10 FMU sports that garnered an academic team award this year.

The AVCA's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches —primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women's volleyball, men's volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.