Monmouth
Monmouth, Ill. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has presented the Monmouth College volleyball team with its annual AVCA Team Academic Award, which is based on a team’s academic performance during the 2009-10 academic year. Only 75 Division III teams earned the distinction.
This was the Fighting Scots’ first recognition in the 18-year history of the award, which goes to teams that maintain a GPA of 3.30 or higher throughout the academic year.
"This is a tremendous honor for our team,” said head coach Kari Shimmin. “We strive to recruit student-athletes who can excel both in the classroom and on the court. I’m just as proud of what the team has accomplished in the classroom as what they do on the court. The lessons they learn in the classroom and on the court will serve them well in their future endeavors. The challenge this season will be to maintain the high academic and athletic standards set by earlier teams.”
The Scots report to campus in mid-August and open their home season with the annual Monmouth College Invitational on Sept. 4.
Beloit
Lexington, KY -- The 2009 Beloit College Buccaneer Volleyball team has earned distinction from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the second straight year, receiving the Team Academic Award for the 2009-10 school year.
A record 450 teams were lauded for their academic excellence, including 75 in NCAA Division III.
The Bucs were one of just two teams to receive the honor in the Midwest Conference, along with Monmouth College, and were one of just four Division III teams in the state of Wisconsin to earn the distinction.
The award, which was initiated by the AVCA during the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point-average on a 4.00 scale.
The Buccaneers, under fourth-year head coach Dawn Redd, open their 2010 season on Wednesday, September 1, when they take on UW-Stevens Point at the Carroll Quad in Waukesha.