Webster Volleyball 2011 AVCA Team Academic Awardee

The Webster University women's volleyball team was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for a third straight year. The award recognizes teams who have 'matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.' The Gorloks qualified by maintaining a cumulative 3.47 team grade point average (GPA) for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Webster was one of 88 NCAA III schools, out of 400+, that received the award for 2011, and the only member of the SLIAC to be so honored.

The Team Academic Award was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, to honor 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 on a 4.0 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 Gorloks made four straight NCAA III Championships appearances from 2006-09 and extended a SLIAC conference winning streak to 43 matches in 2010 before seeing it snapped. Webster is coached by Merry Graf, who will be entering her eleventh season this fall.

Courtesy Webster University sports information