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A record five NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams earned a national recognition for their success in the classroom.
The AVCA announced Monday afternoon that Grand Canyon, Harvard, NJIT, Lees-McRae and Lewis all received the volleyball organization’s annual Team Academic Award.
To be eligible for this national award, teams must have at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 grade point average on a 5.0 scale at the end of the most recent school year.
This is the most college men’s volleyball teams to garner Team Academic Award honors in the award’s history. It is also an increase of three NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams from last year.
Harvard has earned the Team Academic Award for three consecutive season — the longest active streak among NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams. In addition, the Crimson have won the award five times in the last six years.
Grand Canyon, Lees-McRae, Lewis and NJIT are all first-time recipients of the Team Academic Award.
Lees-McRae becomes the first men’s volleyball team from the Conference Carolinas to receive this academic award, while Grand Canyon and Lewis are the first MIVA teams to earn the accolade.
These five teams were among the record 647 teams ranging from boys and girls high school volleyball to college men’s and women’s volleyball that earned the AVCA award.
“Too often athletic participation is associated with academic underachievement and this stereotype is simply false when it comes to volleyball,” AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer said in a statement. “Couple the smarts represented by these teams with the competitive experience and team-focused training gained on the court and we have a potent formula for future leadership! What a significant contribution that is by their coaches and schools.”
Along with the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams, two NCAA Division III teams — Dominican and Vassar — received Team Academic Award honors.