On Monday morning, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association released the 2026 Academic All-MIVA list which featured six Lindenwood Student Athletes. The six athletes to appear on the list includes Aidan Akkawi, Lincoln Geist, Luke Koster, Luke Kraft, Matt Muehlnickel, and Brendan Schoeberl. In order to be on the Academic All-MIVA list, student-athletes must own a 3.30 cumulative GPA through the spring semester at their respective institutions. 

Coming off a season in which the Lions set a Lindenwood NCAA Era record with 20 wins, Junior Opposite Hitter Luke Kraft led the squad in 2026 in both kills (266) and points (325.5), appearing in 85 sets across 24 matches played. Kraft, who was named to the All-MIVA Second Team in 2026, averaged 3.13 kills per set which ranked sixth overall in the MIVA  and ranked seventh overall during conference play with 160 kills. He recorded 10 or more kills in 15 matches played throughout the season and had a season-high 21 kills on February 19 versus McKendree. Meanwhile, Lincoln Geist was a one-time MIVA Defensive Player of the Week award winner in 2026 and set his career-high for digs in a single season with 174, which led the Lions. The Sophomore Libero averaged 1.83 digs per set ranking tied for sixth best in the MIVA, and recorded five or more digs in 20 out of 27 matches played while also setting his career-high in assists with 70. 

Additionally, Luke Koster appeared in two matches and made his first career start back on March 21 at Queens. In his only start of the season, Koster ended the match against the Royals with 42 assists, three service aces, six digs, and two blocks in the five set win. The native of Geneva, Ill ended his 2026 campaign with 44 assists and seven digs across six sets played. Also making his first career start this season was Matt Muehlnickel, who appeared in 11 sets across three matches to end the season. Muehlnickel recorded a season-high eight kills in a five set win over Ohio State on April 11 and finished with 26.5 total points behind 20 kills, 14 digs, and three blocks.

Rounding out the list for the Lions was Brendan Schoeberl and Aidan Akkawi. Schoeberl appeared in 20 matches across 63 sets played and ended the season with four digs and two assists, while Akkawi played in 14 sets across six matches and had three matches with five or more kills. Akkawi recorded a season-high six kills two different times during the regular season both coming against McKendree and ended the season with 22 kills, one service ace, 17 digs, and one block.