SMC Beach Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award

Spartanburg, S.C. – The Spartanburg Methodist College beach volleyball program, led by head coach Makayla Holcombe, has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2024–2025 academic year. The Pioneers are one of just 11 NAIA beach volleyball programs to receive the honor.

Presented by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the award recognizes programs that maintain a year-long team GPA of 3.3 or higher, celebrating academic excellence alongside athletic success.

“It is very exciting to see that the record-setting, on-court successes during the 2024–2025 season have extended to the classroom,” said AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon. “The growing number of programs earning this award shows the deep commitment coaches have to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.”