DWU Volleyball Wins NAIA Top GPA at 3.84

Student athletes are often told they have to choose between sports and academics, but the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team just shattered that myth with a perfect season of excellence.

The Tigers posted a stunning 3.84 team GPA for the 2025-26 school year, earning them the number one spot among all NAIA women's volleyball programs. The American Volleyball Coaches Association named them academic national champions, a first in the program's entire history.

This wasn't just about hitting the books. Fourteen DWU volleyball players earned NAIA scholar athlete honors with GPAs of 3.5 or higher. That's more than half the team balancing rigorous coursework with the demands of competitive athletics.

The Tigers made it clear that academic excellence doesn't mean sacrificing athletic performance. They finished the season with 20 wins, advanced to the NAIA tournament with two victories, and celebrated two All-Americans: Kayleigh Hybertson and Lizzie Tyler.

DWU has now made the AVCA Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive years, ranking in the top 20% of all NAIA volleyball programs academically. They were one of just 1,432 collegiate and high school teams nationwide to earn the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award by maintaining at least a 3.3 GPA throughout the year.

Why This Inspires

These young women are rewriting the narrative about what's possible when you refuse to compromise. They're showing future athletes that dedication in one area doesn't mean sacrificing another. Their success sends a powerful message to every student athlete wondering if they can do it all: yes, you absolutely can.

The Tigers proved that with the right commitment and support, excellence isn't a choice between two paths but a journey down both simultaneously.

The team kicks off their next season August 14 at the Our Lady of the Lake Invitational in San Antonio, ready to defend both their academic crown and their competitive edge.