The Seattle University volleyball team proved its talent not only on the court during the 2014-15 season, but also in the classroom, as the squad received the Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), announced Wednesday morning by the national organization.
The Redhawks are one of 146 NCAA Division I teams to receive the academic honor, including fellow WAC members Missouri-Kansas City and Utah Valley as well as intrastate rival Eastern Washington. In order to receive the award, teams needed to maintain at least a 3.30 grade point average during the 2014-15 academic year.
"While our team is focused on winning a WAC Championship, we are equally focused on excelling academically. Our goal is to be an example of balancing the heavy workload of Division I volleyball along with the intense rigor of Seattle University's academic requirements," Seattle U head volleyball coach James Finley said. “This team each year has raised the bar of acceptable academic success for our team. Our staff is very proud of the focus and dedication each player has given for us to achieve this recognition."
For the Seattle U volleyball squad, the AVCA Team Academic Award adds to the eight individuals who received Academic All-WAC honors during the 2014-15 season.
The Seattle University volleyball team reports to campus Monday, Aug. 10 to begin preparations for the 2015 competition schedule, which kicks off in Berkeley, Calif., Friday, Aug. 28.