University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Team Recognized for Academic Excellence
8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 5, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss volleyball team was one of 409 teams from across the nation to earn the 2008-2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. According to the AVCA, this was a record-breaking season, posting the highest number of award recipients in the program's 17-year history.
"Each year I'm impressed all over again by the academic prowess of volleyball players," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "Total AVCA Team Academic Award winners increased this year by another 55 schools (15%) over last year's record, and, even more impressive, 22% of our four-year college teams had grade point averages of 3.2 or better."
Originating in the 1992-1993 academic year, the award is presented to college and high school teams that achieve academic excellence 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. Southern Miss exceeded the requirements by obtaining a 3.51 cumulative team GPA for the fall semester and a 3.39 cumulative team GPA for the spring, based on a 4.0 scale.
The Lady Eagles, along with 70 NCAA Division I teams, received the academic award. Southern Miss was also one of five Conference USA team recipients, including East Carolina, Marshall, Rice and Memphis.
The team will receive a plaque and each player a certificate in honor of the accomplishment.
