Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

2024-25 AVCA Team Academi Award Press Release

July 21, 2025 — Demonstrating excellence both on the court and in the classroom, the North Central College women's volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the sixth consecutive season, the organization announced Monday.

Established during the 1992–93 academic year, the AVCA Team Academic Award recognizes volleyball programs that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Sponsored by the AVCA and INTENT, a record 1,450 collegiate and high school teams received the honor this year.

The Cardinals concluded the 2024 season with a 22-8 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play. North Central posted a dominant 10-1 record inside Gregory Arena, highlighted by the program's first-ever sweep of a top-10 opponent—No. 9 Millikin University on Oct. 30.

The Cardinals hosted a CCIW Tournament match for the first time since 2009 and swept North Park University to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Maddi Barickman was named CCIW Setter of the Year, and Bailey Houlihan earned CCIW Defensive Player of the Year honors. Houlihan also became just the second AVCA All-American in program history. In total, four Cardinals received All-CCIW recognition.

North Central was one of eight CCIW institutions to receive the AVCA academic honor, joining Augustana College, Carroll University, Elmhurst University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Millikin University, North Park University, and Wheaton College.

The Cardinals open the 2025 season against Eureka College at the Illinois College Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29. To view the full schedule, click HERE.

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