Lansing Sun

Michigan State volleyball senior setter Julia Bishop has been recognized as one of the 18 recipients of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) Coaches 4 Coaches scholarship. She stands out as the only active undergraduate student-athlete among the recipients, with the rest being current graduate students or full-time assistant coaches.

The AVCA scholarship program, funded by its members, aims to support young coaches and recent college graduates interested in coaching volleyball. This year's cohort adds to a group of over 165 alumni from the program.

"One of the most important qualities of any coach is their adherence to a set of personal values, and Julia has embodied our values of service, growth and honor to the highest degree," stated Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "Her commitment to serving her teammates, constantly seeking improvement and upholding integrity both on and off the court is a testament to the kind of leader and role model she is."

Scholarship recipients will have opportunities for networking and education at a convention scheduled for December 18-22 in Louisville, Kentucky.

"On behalf of the committee I would like to congratulate the 2024 scholarship recipients," said Jaime Gordon, AVCA CEO and Coaches 4 Coaches Committee Chair. "There was a tremendous pool of applicants for our 16th year, and that made the committee's work challenging."

In addition to her academic pursuits, Bishop launched Zone1 Volleyball Training during Summer 2024. She participated in interscholastic volleyball camps across Michigan as both an attendee and coach.

Bishop currently leads Michigan State with 457 assists at an average rate of 6.09 assists per set this season. Since transitioning to a 5-1 system, she averages 8.21 assists per set for her team. Her six double-doubles (assists and digs) are unmatched at MSU this season. In a recent upset against No.16-ranked USC, Bishop recorded a season-high of 46 assists.