RELEASED:  Monday, August 10, 2009

UW-La Crosse Receives AVCA Team Academic Award

LEXINGTON, Ky.--For the ninth consecutive year, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The nine straight awards is the longest active streak in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, breaking the division's previous mark of eight seasons set by UW-Eau Claire from 1995-96 to 2002-03.

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 4.00 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.00 scale. UW-La Crosse finished the season with a 3.34 team grade point average.

A total of 77 NCAA Division III institutions were represented on this year’s squad.

The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by IMG Associations. The mission of the AVCA is to develop and grow the sport of volleyball; with a membership of over 4,500 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and developing the sport. Members are comprised of national and international coaches, collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as club directors. Other members include former players, officials, media members and other friends of volleyball. As a group, the AVCA is committed to the development, growth, advancement and publicity of volleyball throughout the world. Further information is available at www.avca.org.