Record 5 teams receive national academic award

For the second consecutive year, five NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams earned national academic honor.

The AVCA announced Wednesday that Cal Baptist, George Mason, Grand Canyon, Harvard and NJIT all received the organization’s annual Team Academic Award.

Teams in order to be eligible for national recognition 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.

This ties the single-year record set last year for the most Division I-II men’s volleyball teams to earn the Team Academic Award.

Along with tying the overall record, Harvard extends its streak to four straight seasons receiving the Team Academic Award. It also remains the nation’s longest active streak among NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams.

Grand Canyon and NJIT both repeated as Team Academic Award recipients. In addition, Cal Baptist earned the award for the time since becoming a NCAA Division II member, while George Mason received the recognition for the first time since 2012.

Beyond these NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams, the defending-NCAA Division III champions Stevens Tech and NAIA member St. Ambrose were selected for the national award.

A record 754 teams ranging from boys and girls high school volleyball teams to college men’s and women’s volleyball teams received the Team Academic Award.