LPJ Sports Report
RUSTON, La. — Both Louisiana Tech’s and Ruston High School’s volleyball teams is being recognized for work in the classroom as well as on the court and earned 2026 AVCA Team Academic Awards from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
The Lady Bearcats also earned the additional distinction of AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, placing the program among the top 20 percent of GPAs nationally in its division.
Ruston head coach Mandy Cauley said the honor speaks to the character of her players.
“This is a national level academic achievement,” Cauley said. “Our girls put so much into athletics, but also academics. This reflects how well rounded these young ladies are. Their efforts on and off the court are exemplary. I am beyond proud.”
To qualify for the award, the Lady Bearcats had to maintain a year-long team grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, a standard the program met while also competing through a full volleyball season.
The Bulldogs had four CSC All-Academic nods and one CUSA All-Academic recipient last season in their first year under head coach Scott Mattera. The team had 3.58, 3.40 and 3.53 GPA’s across the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters, respectively.
Ruston and Tech join 1,432 collegiate and high school programs nationwide honored by the AVCA this year, but the Honor Roll distinction sets the Lady Bearcats apart further, reserved for teams whose GPAs rank in the top 20% within their respective division.
AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon credited coaches and players across the sport for prioritizing academics alongside athletics.
“We are grateful for the dedication of the coaches and players who make both classroom and on-court success the lifeblood of their programs,” Gordon said.
The recognition adds to a growing list of achievements for Ruston athletics this year and reinforces a standard Cauley has emphasized with her program: success away from the court matters as much as what happens between the lines.
