UW-La Crosse Earns AVCA Team Academic Award

For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 31, 2008

Lexington, Ky. – For the eighth consecutive year, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The eight straight awards match Central College (Iowa) for the longest active streak in NCAA Division III, tying the division’s highest mark set by UW-Eau Claire from 1995-96 to 2002-03. UW-Eau Claire also earned the academic award in 2007-08.

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 total of 62 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.

UW-L finished 24-10 last year and made its 11th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Eagles, who have recorded at least 20 victories in 13 straight seasons, open their 2008 season Friday, August 29 hosting Fontbonne College (Mo.) at 3 p.m. and the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) at 7 p.m.