July 27, 2011

Lexington, Ky. - The Fordham University volleyball team was one of 481 teams recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2010-11 season. This number smashes the previous year's total of 450, setting a new all-time high for this award, as the number of teams recognized has increased in each of the last six years.

Fordham was one of just two Atlantic 10 teams to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award for the past academic year, joining the University of Dayton.

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.

"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!"

The Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA's fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients has increased every single year but one, while amassing an overall 170% increase over the span of the decade. Since the award's inception in 1993, the award has risen by an astounding 674%. NCAA Division II recorded their highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 57 programs while Division III easily surpassed last year's record of 75 winners with 88 this year. The high school division also set a new record with its 194 recipients.

Fordham was one of 94 NCAA Division I women's program to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award in 2010-11.

"I want to thank all of our players on maintaining over a 3.3 GPA for the year and winning the AVCA Team Academic Award for the second straight year," said Fordham head coach Peter Volkert. "This is awesome team accolade and I'm very proud of each of our players."

Over 1,000 different schools have earned the award in the program's 18-year history, and over 2,900 awards have been given out in all.

NCAA Division I Women (92)
University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Appalachian State University, Arizona State University, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State University, Ball State University, Baylor University, Belmont University, Bowling Green State University, Brown University, University of California - Berkeley, Central Connecticut State University, University of Central Florida, Central Michigan University, Creighton University, University of Dayton, Delaware State University, University of Denver, Duke University, Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Washington University, University of Evansville, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Fordham University, Fresno State University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Georgia Southern University, Gonzaga University, University of Hartford, Harvard University, University of Houston, University of Idaho, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Liberty University, Lipscomb University, Marist College, Marquette University, University of Memphis, University of Miami, Missouri State University, University of Montana, Morehead State University, University of New Mexico, Niagara University, North Carolina State University, University of North Florida, University of North Texas, Northern Arizona University, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Ohio University, The Ohio State University, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Providence College, Rice University, Robert Morris University, Rutgers University, Saint Francis University, Seton Hall University, University of South Carolina Upstate, South Dakota State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern Illinois University, University of Southern Mississippi, St. John's University, Stanford University, Syracuse University, University of Tennessee, UT-Martin, University of Texas-San Antonio, University of Toledo, University of Utah, Valparaiso University, Villanova University, Western Illinois University, Western Kentucky University, Western Michigan University, Wichita State University, Winthrop University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wyoming, Yale University

TOTAL RECIPIENT HISTORY

2010-11: 481
2009-10: 450
2008-09: 409
2007-08: 354
2006-07: 308
2005-06: 287
2004-05: 276
2003-04: 305
2002-03: 205
2001-02: 178
2000-01: 130
1999-2000: 140
1998-99: 149
1997-98: 132
1996-97: 134
1995-96: 116
1994-95: 83
1993-94: 98
1992-93: 62