July 27, 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced last week that the 2008 Texas Tech Volleyball team was among the nation's leaders in grade point averages by team, and earned an AVCA Team Academic Award, one of only two Big 12 schools (Kansas) to be so honored.

"Our student-athletes work so hard, both on the court and in the classroom, and I'm so pleased that the AVCA and other coaching associations sponsor team awards such as this which recognize that effort," said the team's academic counselor, Michelle Brigham. "This is a group of lovely young ladies who have met the challenge of balancing athletics with academics and the 15 young women who were on the roster for the 2008 season should be extremely proud of this accomplishment."

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 two semesters which comprise the academic year, by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Of the nation's 329 Division I programs which sponsor women's volleyball, 71 NCAA schools received the award for academic achievements.

"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 percent) over last year's record."

"This award is very dear to my heart, as I believe the effort in the classroom is where our overall team success begins" said head coach Trish Knight. "For each of the players to do well enough academically for the team to be listed here, speaks volumes to their commitment to high. And, not to put too much pressure on this year's squad, but it's the type of thing I'll be expecting to receive again," she added with a smile.

Below are the 71 DI programs that earned the award:

NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN
American University
Arizona State University
Ball State University
Bowling Green State University
Bradley University
Bryant University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Michigan University
Creighton University
DePaul University
Drake University
Duke University
East Carolina University
Eastern Michigan University
Elon University
Gonzaga University
Harvard University
Illinois State University
Indiana State University
Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville University
Marist College
Marshall University
McNeese State University
Morehead State University
Niagara University
North Dakota State University
Northern Arizona University
Ohio State University
Quinnipiac University
Rice University
Saint Louis University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
St. John's University
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Texas Tech University
University of Akron
University of Central Arkansas
University of Dayton
University of Denver
University of Evansville
University of Florida
University of Kansas
University of Maine-Orono
University of Memphis
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of North Florida
University of Pittsburgh
University of Portland
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Texas-Pan American
University of Toledo
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
University of Wyoming
Utah State University
Utah Valley University
Valparaiso University
Villanova University
Western Illinois University
Western Kentucky University
Western Michigan University
Wichita State University
Winthrop University
Yale University

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