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AVCA Breaks Record with 676 Teams Honored for Academic Excellence
LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 4, 2014) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that 676 teams have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2012-2013 season. This number once again breaks the previous year's total of 623 and sets a new all-time high for this award.
The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade- point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.
“Too often athletic participation is associated with academic underachievement and this stereotype is simply false when it comes to volleyball,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “Couple the smarts represented by these teams with the competitive experience and team-focused training gained on the court and we have a potent formula for future leadership! What a significant contribution that is by their coaches and schools.”
The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA's fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients have increased every single year but one, while amassing an overall 500% increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award's inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 676.
NCAA Division I recorded their highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 134 programs while NCAA Division II also set a new record by reaching a total of 94 honorees. NCAA Division III continues to set new records after 126 schools take home the honor with the Two-Year College category also surpassing their previous high of 16 with 22.
Prior to 2013-2014, only 18 teams had attained the pinnacle of volleyball success in both earning the AVCA Team Academic Award and winning their respective collegiate national championship in the same academic year. This year, the AVCA is proud to recognize four programs that excelled in the classroom and on the court: Concordia University, St. Paul (NCA Division II), Calvin College (NCAA Division III), Cowley County Community College (NJCAA Division II) and Clearwater Christian College (NCCAA Division II).
Over 1,000 different schools have earned the award in the program’s 22-year history, with exactly 6,126 awards been given out in total. Additionally, there were six programs to earn recognition in the inaugural sand category.
BREAKDOWN BY CLASSIFICATION
Division Number of recipients Percent Breakdown* NCAA Division I Women 134 20% NCAA Division II Women 94 14% NCAA Division III Women 126 18.6% NAIA Women 33 5% Two-Year College 22 3.2% NCCAA 2 .3% NCAA Collegiate Men 7 1% High School Girls 225 33% High School Boys 27 4% College Sand 6 .9%
* Percentage is based on each category's breakdown of the total 2013-2014 Team Academic recipients.
Recipients:
NCAA Division I Women Eastern Michigan University Manhattan College Abilene Christian University Eastern Washington University Marist College American University Fordham University Marquette University Appalachian State University Fresno State University Marshall University Arizona State University Furman University McNeese State University Auburn University Gardner-Webb University Mercer University Austin Peay State University Georgetown University Miami University (OH) Ball State University Georgia Southern University Missouri State University Baylor University Hampton University Morehead State University Bethune-Cookman College Harvard University Niagara University Bowling Green State University Hofstra University North Dakota State University Bradley University Illinois State University Northeastern University Brown University Indiana State University Northern Illinois University Bryant University Iona College Northern Kentucky University Bucknell University IPFW Northwestern State University Butler University IUPUI Oakland University Canisius College Jacksonville State University Ohio University Central Connecticut State Univ Jacksonville University Oral Roberts University Central Michigan University Kansas State University Oregon State University Chicago State University Kennesaw State University Radford University College of Charleston Kent State University Rice University College of the Holy Cross Lehigh University Rutgers University Dartmouth College Liberty University Saint Mary's College (CA) DePaul University Lipscomb University Sam Houston State University Duke University LIU Brooklyn Seattle University Duquesne University Loyola University Maryland Southeast Missouri State University East Tennessee State University Loyola University-Chicago Southern Illinois University Eastern Kentucky University
Southern Methodist University University of New Hampshire Barry University
Southern Utah University University of North Dakota Bentley University
St. John's University University of North Texas California State University Monterey Bay
Stetson University University of Northern Colorado California University of Pennsylvania
Stony Brook University University of Northern Iowa Carson Newman University
Temple University University of Rhode Island Catawba College
Tennessee Tech University University of San Francisco Cedarville University
Texas Tech University University of South Carolina Central Washington University
The Citadel University of South Carolina Upstate Chadron State College
University at Buffalo University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chestnut Hill College
University of Akron University of the Pacific Clarion University
University of Alabama University of Toledo Colorado Mesa University
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Colorado State University - Pueblo
University of Arkansas-Little Rock UT Martin Concordia University - St. Paul
University of California - Irvine Utah Valley University Dominican University of California
University of Central Florida UTSA Dowling College
University of Denver Valparaiso University Emporia State University
University of Evansville Villanova University Florida Southern College
University of Hartford Western Kentucky University Franklin Pierce University
University of Idaho Western Michigan University Gannon University
University of Illinois Wichita State University Goldey-Beacom College
University of Iowa Yale University Grand Valley State University
University of Kansas Youngstown State University Hillsdale College
University of Louisiana Indiana University of Pennsylvania NCAA Division II Women University of Louisiana-Monroe Kentucky Wesleyan College Academy of Art University University of Louisville King University (TN) Adelphi University University of Memphis Lees-McRae College Anderson University (SC) University of Missouri Lewis University Angelo State University University of Montana Lindenwood University Armstrong Atlantic State University University of Nebraska-Omaha Lubbock Christian University
NCAA Division III Women Lynn University St Edward's University Albion College McKendree University St. Mary's University (TX) Alma College Mercy College Texas Woman's University Anderson University (Ind.) Mercyhurst College The College of Saint Rose Augsburg College Minnesota State University, Mankato The University of Findlay Aurora University Minnesota State University-Moorhead Truman State University Bard College Missouri S&T Tusculum College Beloit College Missouri Western State University Union University (TN) Berry College Molloy College University of Alaska Fairbanks Bethany College (WV) New York Institute of Technology University of Bridgeport Bethel University (MN) Newberry College University of Central Missouri Birmingham-Southern College Northern Michigan University University of Central Oklahoma Bowdoin College Northern State University University of Montevallo Bryn Mawr College Northwest Missouri State University University of New Haven California Lutheran University Northwood University (MI) University of Sioux Falls Calvin College Notre Dame College (OH) University of Southern Indiana Capital University Ohio Dominican University University of Tampa Carleton College Oklahoma Panhandle State University University of West Alabama Case Western Reserve University Ouachita Baptist University University of Wisconsin-Parkside Centenary College (LA) Palm Beach Atlantic University Valdosta State University Central College (IA) Quincy University Washburn University Chapman University Rockhurst University Wayne State College (Neb.) Clark University Rollins College Wayne State University Coe College Saginaw Valley State University West Chester University Colby College Seattle Pacific University Wheeling Jesuit University College of St Benedict (MN) Seton Hill University William Jewell College College of St Elizabeth South Dakota School of Mines Wilmington University (DE) Colorado College Southern Arkansas University Wingate University Connecticut College Southwest Minnesota State University Winona State University Cornell College (Iowa) Spring Hill College
DePauw University Lycoming College Springfield College
Dickinson College Macalester College St John Fisher College
Dominican University MacMurray College St Lawrence University
Dominican University Maranatha Baptist Bible College Stevens Institute of Technology
Eastern Connecticut State University Martin Luther College Stevenson University
Edgewood College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Susquehanna University
Elmhurst College McDaniel College Swarthmore College
Elmira College Messiah College The College of New Rochelle
Emerson College Middlebury College The College of Wooster
Emory University Monmouth College Trine University
Fontbonne University Moravian College Trinity University (Texas)
Frostburg State University Mount Aloysius College Union College (NY)
Gallaudet University Nebraska Wesleyan University University of Dubuque
Geneva College New York University University of Minnesota-Morris
Greenville College Oberlin College University of Mount Union
Grinnell College Ohio Northern University University of New England
Hamilton College Olivet College University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Hardin-Simmons University Otterbein University University of Scranton
Haverford College Piedmont College University of St. Thomas (Minn.)
Hendrix College Pomona-Pitzer Colleges University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Hope College Principia College University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Houghton College Roger Williams University University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Huntingdon College (AL) Rowan University University of Wisconsin-Stout
Immaculata University Sage Colleges Vassar College
Johns Hopkins University Saint Mary's College (IN) Wartburg College
Kalamazoo College Salisbury University Washington & Lee University
Keuka College Schreiner University Washington College (MD)
Lakeland College Simmons College (MA) Washington University in St. Louis
Lebanon Valley College Simpson College (IA) Waynesburg University
Luther College Southwestern University (TX) Webster University
Wesleyan University (Conn.) Missouri Valley College Illinois Central College
Western Connecticut St Univ Montreat College Kirkwood Community College
Westminster College (PA) Oklahoma Baptist University North Platte Community College
Wheaton College (IL) Peru State College Pasco-Hernando State College
Whitman College Presentation College Clackamas Community College
Widener University Rocky Mountain College Edmonds Community College
Wittenberg University Southern Oregon University NCCAA Taylor University
NAIA Trinity Christian College Clearwater Christian College AIB College of Business University of Mobile Kentucky Christian University Ashford University Viterbo University NCAA Collegiate Men Benedictine College (KS) Wiley College Grand Canyon University Bethany College (KS)
Harvard University Bethel College (KS) Two-Year College Women New Jersey Institute of Technology Cardinal Stritch University Feather River Jr College Lees-McRae College Carroll College (MT) Barton County Community College Lewis University College of St. Mary (NE) Colby Community College Dominican University Columbia College (MO) Indian River State College Vassar College Concordia University (NE) Salt Lake Community College
Dordt College Seward County Community College High School Girls Evangel University Snead State Community College Abraham Clark High School Georgetown College Western Wyoming Community College Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Grace College Allen County Community College Adena High School Graceland University Bismarck State College Allen Central High School Hastings College Butler County Community College (KS) Altoona Area High School John Brown University Cowley College Ann Arbor Huron Kansas Wesleyan University Des Moines Area Community College Archbishop Mitty High School Lindsey Wilson College Ellsworth Community College Archbold High School Madonna University Fort Scott Community College Arizona Lutheran Academy Midland University Highland Community College (KS) Barnstable High School
Batavia High School Chester Area High School Fulton City High School
Batesville High School Churchill High School Garden Spot High School
Beaver Dam High School Clarke County High School Georgetown High School
Becker High School Clinton High School (IA) Germantown Academy
Bedford High School Cloverleaf High School Gilmour Academy
Benjamin Franklin High School Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Glenbard South High School
Beresford High School Conway High School Granbury High School
Berlin High School Coronado High School Grand Haven High School
Billings Sr High School Cy-Falls High School Grand Ledge High School
Bishop Canevin High School Cypress Woods High School Grand Rapids Union High School
Bishop Carroll Catholic High School Dansville High School Graves County High School
Bishop Chatard High School Danville High School Greater Atlanta Christian School
Bishop Dunne Catholic School Doniphan High School Greenbrier East High School
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Dorman High School Hamilton High School
Bluffton High School Douglas County West HS Hamilton Southeastern High School
Bourne High School El Paso Gridley High School Harley-Allendale Columbia High School
Bronson High School Ell-Saline High School Harrison High School
Bushland High School Etowah High School Hastings St Cecilia
California R-1 High School Evangelical Christian Helias Catholic High School
Campbellsport High School Faith Lutheran High School Henry Clay High School
Canyon High School Fort Defiance High School Hesston High School
Carlmont High School-Belmont Fort Osage High School Hillsboro High School
Cartersville High School Fox Valley Lutheran High School Hollister High School
Cathedral High School Francis Howell High School Holy Innocents Episcopal
Centennial High School Francis Howell North High School Horace Mann High School
Central Dauphin High School Francis Lewis High School Horizon High School
Charlotte Country Day School Fredericksburg High School Horseheads High School
Charlotte Latin School Freeland High School Hustisford High School
Charter School of Wilmington Fremont High School IC Catholic Prep
Cherry Creek High School Frontier Regional High School Immaculata High School
Indian Creek High School Miller High School Pikeville High School
Indian Hills High School Mills E. Godwin High School Pine Grove Area High School
Ironwood Ridge High School Monte Vista High School Pleasant Valley High School
J.E.B. Stuart High School Moriarty High School Portage High School
Janesville Craig Mount Olive High School Poteet HS/Mesquite
John Carroll Catholic High School Mukwonago High School Poth High School
Johnston High School Nebraska Lutheran High School Powell Co. High School
Jonesboro High School Neshannock School District Prescott High School
Jorge Peñate New Braunfels High Presentation High School
Kingwood High School Newsome High School Pulaski High School
Kirkwood High School Niwot High School Racine Lutheran High School
La Canada High School Nolan Maria Racine Park High School
Lafayette County-Higginsville High School NONNEWAUG HIGH SCHOOL Ramstein High School
Lakeside Lutheran High School North Cobb High School Regis High School
Lakota West High School North Henderson High School Richardson High School
Langley High School Northwest High School Rincon High School
Lanphier High School Northwestern High School Rio Rancho High School
Leslie County High School Norwich High School River Valley High School
Londonderry High School Notre Dame Preparatory School Rockdale County High School
Lone Peak High School Okemos High School Ross S. Sterling High School
Longmeadow High School Olathe South High School Rossford High School
Lutcher High School Omaha Marian High School Rudder High School
Magnolia High School Orion High School Sacred Heart Cathedral
Mahar Regional High School Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Salt Fork Coop
Mahnomen Paintsville High School San Marcos High School
McHenry High School Palo Alto High School San Mateo High School
MDI High School Parker High School Scarsdale High School
Menno High School Parkland High School Schulenburg High School
Miami East High School Pearland High School Scott High School
Milan High School Phoenix Christian Preparatory School Seward High School
Sisters High School Warren Township High School Liberty High School
Slinger Middle School Washington County High School McQuaid Jesuit
Southeast Polk High School Wellington-Napoleon R-IX High School Meadville High School
Southwestern High School Western Christian HS Sacred Heart Cathedral
St Ignatius College Prep Westfield High School St Charles North High School
St. Charles High School Westlake High School St. Mark's School of Texas
St. Francis Borgia RHS Westminster Christian School The Harker School
St. James Academy Woodward Academy Warren Township High School
St. Mark's High School Wootton High School Williams Field High School
St. Paul High School Wootton High School Windward School
St. Pius X Catholic High School Wolcott Technical School High School Boys St. Thomas Aquinas High School Wootton High School Alter High School St. Vincent/St. Mary's High School York Community High School Altoona Area High School Sullivan High School Ambridge Area High School College Sand The Taft School Archbishop Wood High School Warner University Toledo Christian Cathedral High School Georgia State University Tracy-Milroy-Balaton High School Cocalico High School Mercer University Trinity High School Concordia High School Stetson University Troy High School Coronado High School University of Nebraska Uniontown High School Crespi Carmelite High School Central Community College United Faith Christian Academy Francis Howell High School Verrado High School Glenbard West High School Versailles High School Horace Mann High School Village Christian Schools Ironwood Ridge High School Wakefield High School La Jolla High School
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About AVCA The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 6,400 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.
David Portney AVCA Manager of Media Relations & E-commerce [email protected]