IRVINE, Calif. – In what is becoming an annual summer tradition, both female Concordia University Irvine volleyball programs earned AVCA Academic Team Award recognition this July.

The CUI beach volleyball and indoor women's volleyball squads both easily cleared the requirement of collecting a 3.3 Team GPA or higher during the 2024-25 school year. The AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) honors collegiate and high school student-athletes every year for their academic achievements with this award, which is sponsored by INTENT.

This is now the third year in a row that both women's volleyball teams at CUI hit these high marks.

CUI beach volleyball earned this AVCA academic honor for the third straight year with a 3.61 Team GPA. Under the leadership of Jenny Griffith, who recently earned career win No. 100 as Concordia's head coach, the team has leveled up with unprecedented success in both the classroom and in the sand during the NCAA DII era. The beach volleyball team has now won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons and advanced to the AVCA Small College Championship Round in back-to-back years. 

The indoor women's volleyball team also garnered a 3.55 Team GPA as the Golden Eagles qualified for the fourth year in a row. This is also the sixth time in the past eight years the program has been listed in the NCAA DII era. CUI won 16 games and went 11-9 in conference play in head coach Eryn Leja-Martin's first season at the helm.

While the beach volleyball team will be back in action in early 2026, the Concordia women's volleyball team opens up its regular season on Friday, Sept. 5 with its first two home games that day as part of the Golden Eagle Classic.

The three-day tournament features half a dozen total games inside CU Arena with NCAA DII schools competing in non-conference matches. Concordia's first two opponents, Western Oregon and Cal State Dominguez Hills actually play each other to open the tourney on Thursday, Sept 4 at 5 p.m.  There are also some other matches being played at Azusa Pacific and Vanguard.

In addition to playing the Wolves and Toros, the Golden Eagles are also slated for one more home game that Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. against Texas Women's University.

CLICK HERE for the upcoming 2025 women's volleyball schedule

About INTENT:
INTENT is a tech, information and internet company; purpose-driven to guide student-athletes and service members toward professional and personal success in LIFE AFTER SPORTS AND SERVICE.

About the American Volleyball Coaches Association:
The association'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 9,500 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.

CLICK HERE for the full list of AVCA Team Academic Award Honorees