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Men's Volleyball

Norse Men’s Volleyball earns AVCA Team Academic Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Team Academic Award winners on Thursday, with Northern Kentucky earning the award in the team's inaugural season. The Norse were one of just 13 men's Division I programs to earn the honor, and one of just three in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). 

"Winning the AVCA 2026 team academic award is the culmination of a process that started over two years ago when we began recruiting this group of talented student-athletes," said Norse head coach Jim Palilonis. "We had an intentional emphasis on recruiting young men with great academic abilities and high volleyball IQ's. 
I could not be more proud of the hard work they have put in the classroom and on the court. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them in our first year. They have set the standard and established a culture of high academic expectations within the men's volleyball program that is sure to carry on. Norse Up!"

To earn the honor, teams must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better for the entire 2025-26 academic year. 

Northern Kentucky saw 13 student-athletes earn Academic All-MIVA honors earlier this year. 

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