BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - For the sixth-straight year, and the tenth time since 1999, the Western Kentucky University volleyball team has earned Team Academic Award honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
"Many people are aware of the fact that WKU volleyball has been to six NCAA tournaments in the last ten years, but what they may not realize is that during that time we have also been named an Academic All-American team six times," said WKU head coach Travis Hudson. "I couldn't be more proud of our student-athletes for their performance on the court, in the classroom and in the community. This is a group of players that all Hilltopper fans should be very proud of."
The AVCA honored a record 533 teams this year from the high school and college ranks with the award, which is given to teams that hold an average 3.30 cumulative team GPA during the academic year on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale. With 102 Division I schools honored, WKU is one of five Sun Belt Conference schools to make the list, joining UALR, Troy, South Alabama and North Texas.
"Many coaches tell us they take more pride in and hear more positive feedback about winning the AVCA Team Academic Award than anything else they do all year," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "While it is undeniable that the sport we coach is zero-sum on the scoreboard, it is a tool for empowerment on other fronts. The 533 coaches whose teams won this academic award understand the value of both playing to win and winning through play. A well-deserved congratulations to each team and coach!"
The Lady Toppers look to continue their success on the court as well when the 2012 season opens on August 24 at Louisville. WKU is coming off of a 2011 campaign that saw the team finish with a 31-4 overall record and 15-1 league mark while winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Eastern Division and regular season titles.
