Washington University Volleyball Receives 2011-12 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award

St. Louis, Mo., July 26, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team was one of a program-record 533 teams who received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 season, as announced by the association.

The program 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 GPA. Washington University boasted a team GPA of 3.514 during the last school year.

A record total of 90 NCAA Division III institutions received the award for the 2011-12 academic year, which equates to nearly 16.9 percent of the nation’s eligible programs. Washington U. was one of four University Athletic Association (UAA) schools to earn the AVCA Team Academic honor, joining Case Western Reserve University, Emory University and University of Rochester.

Washington University finished the 2011 season with a 34-2 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Division III regional championship before falling to Carthage College. The Bears also won the program’s 20th UAA championship in 2011.

Washington U. opens the 2012 season on Friday, Aug. 31, when it hosts Fontbonne University and William Woods University in a dual-match doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at the WU Field House.