July 27, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. -
The Illinois State volleyball team received a Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for its academic success in 2008-09. The Redbirds posted a 3.43 grade-point average in the Fall 2008 semester and a 3.36 GPA in the Spring 2009 semester.
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 GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.
This past season, a record 409 schools received the recognition, surpassing the previous mark of 354 set in 2007-08. Illinois State was one of 71 Division I schools to be honored, which accounts for roughly 25 percent of all volleyball programs at that level.
"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 percent of our four-year college teams had grade point averages of 3.2 or better."
Fellow Missouri Valley Conference members Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Indiana State, Southern Illinois and Wichita State also made the list. Indiana State was honored for the 11th-consecutive year, the longest active streak in Division I.
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