LEXINGTON, KY – For a sixth-straight year, the Francis Marion University volleyball program was selected as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award based on the squad's outstanding cumulative GPA during the 2025-26 academic year.

This marks the 10th time in program history that the Patriots have received this national academic recognition.

The award, which was initiated in 1992-93, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The Patriots had 15 student-athletes – 78.9 percent of its entire roster – maintain a GPA of at least 3.30 this academic year including Vanessa Blake, Kayla Clayworth, Ella Curbow, Katie Floyd, Madilyn Gartner, Aubrey Johnson, Katie Kemp, Caroline Lucas, Ella Martinez, Mya Mendoza, Allison Miller, Lily Puritis, Myla Ronchetto, McKayla Stockwell, and McKenna Wiseman.

Clayworth, Gartner, Kemp, Martinez, and Mendoza all carried perfect 4.00 GPAs.

Led by head coach Lauren Baufield-Edwards, this year's FMU squad posted a team GPA of 3.606. On the court, the Patriots posted an impressive 21-10 overall record while securing the Conference Carolinas East Division title and the top seed in the league tournament.

FMU was one of six teams from the Conference Carolinas to earn the honor from the AVCA this season.

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.