The USA South Athletic Conference has announced that Southern Virginia University has earned the 2026 USA South Sportsmanship Trophy. The Knights collect the Sportsmanship Trophy for the fifth consecutive year after picking up the Team Sportsmanship Award in eight sports during the 2025-2026 academic year. The Knights were chosen as winners in football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's lacrosse, and men's tennis.
There is a Sportsmanship Award for the 12 Conference-sponsored team sports. Cross country, golf, and track & field are not included due to a lack of a conference schedule in those particular sports. For each sport, all team members vote for the team they deemed to have demonstrated the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season. The team garnering the most votes receives that sports' Sportsmanship Award. The institution which wins the most individual sport awards is presented with the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy. The award came about through Conference's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses.
Other institutions picking up single team honors were LaGrange College, Mary Baldwin University, Meredith College, and William Peace University each collected single team honors.
The USA South hopes that by awarding a Sportsmanship Award, the Conference members will understand the importance of this issue. It is vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition.
2025-26 Sportsmanship Award Winners
Football - Southern Virginia University (second consecutive year)
Men's Soccer - Mary Baldwin University
Women's Soccer - William Peace University
Volleyball - Southern Virginia University (second consecutive year)
Men's Basketball - Southern Virginia University (fourth consecutive year)
Women's Basketball - Southern Virginia University (third consecutive year)
Baseball - Southern Virginia University
Softball - Southern Virginia University
Men's Lacrosse - LaGrange College
Women's Lacrosse - Southern Virginia University
Men's Tennis - Southern Virginia University (second consecutive year)
Women's Tennis - Meredith College (third consecutive year)
Past Sportsmanship Trophy Recipients
2005-26 - Southern Virginia University
2004-25 - Southern Virginia University
2023-24 - Southern Virginia University
2022-23 - Southern Virginia University
2021-22 - Southern Virginia University
2020-21 - Vacant (COVID-19)
2019-20 - Vacant (COVID-19)
2018-19 - Covenant College
2017-18 - Covenant College and Mary Baldwin University
2016-17 - Covenant College
2015-16 - Covenant College
2014-15 - Covenant College and Mary Baldwin University
2013-14 - Covenant College
2012-13 - Mary Baldwin University
2011-12 - Mary Baldwin University
2010-11 - Ferrum College
2009-10 - Mary Baldwin University
2008-09 - Mary Baldwin University
2007-08 - Christopher Newport University
2006-07 - Averett University
2005-06 - Averett University
2004-05 - N.C. Wesleyan University