July 22, 2011
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's volleyball team was one of a record 481 schools to earn the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2010-11 season. The 481 schools recognized breaks the previous record of 450, set last year.
The award, which was initiated during 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 on a 5.0 scale.
Georgetown posted a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.322 under the direction of Head Coach Arlisa Williams. The Hoyas have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award twice in the last four years (2007-08, 2010-11) and it was the third time overall, including the 1996 year.
The Hoyas were one of only 92 Division I schools recognized nationally, including one of only nine BIG EAST schools.
"This is a great honor but it something that we expect at Georgetown," Williams said. "Student-athletes recruited to the Georgetown Volleyball program understand the commitment that needs to be made to excel in the classroom, on the court and in our community. I'm proud that our student-athletes have the work ethic and commitment to balance both academics and athletics."
"A hearty congratulations to all the volleyball coaches whose teams won the 2011 AVCA Team Academic Award," said AVCA Executive Director, Kathy DeBoer. "Teams do not succeed in the classroom by accident any more so than they do on the court. The same coach who taught them volleyball skills cared enough about their academic achievement to gather their grades, calculate their GPA, and submit a nomination on their behalf. In doing so, these coaches sent a clear message that classroom success is just as important as court success. All involved should celebrate this award!"
Georgetown begins its 2011 season on Friday, August 27 (5 p.m.), playing at American University in the D.C. Classic. The Hoyas also play George Washington (Saturday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m.) and George Mason (Saturday, Aug. 28, 5 p.m.).
