KU Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award

July 30, 2009

Lawrence, Kan. –

For the fourth straight year, the University of Kansas volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for achieving a 3.31 cumulative grade point average during the 2008-09 academic year.

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 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

“I’m extremely proud of our team and all the hard work they put into their academics,” said head KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard. “This award demonstrates all the efforts put in by our team, staff and academic advisor, Dr. Scott Ward.”

KU is one of 71 Division I schools to receive the award, while a record 409 total teams earned the distinction. The Jayhawks are also one of two Big 12 teams (Texas Tech) named to the list.

“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.”

Click here for a complete list of 2008-09 recipients.