Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award for 2011-12
Ravens open 2011 season on Aug. 31
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After their third straight AVCA Academic Team Award, the Ravens
start preparations next month for the 2012-13 campaign.RINDGE, N.H. (July 24, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team has been named as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year, as announced Friday by the AVCA.
To be eligible for selection, a team must maintain a 3.30 grade-point average. In all, 533 teams earned the accolade throughout the collegiate and high school ranks. Franklin Pierce, with its 3.57 grade-point average, is one of 67 NCAA Division II women's programs to earn the distinction. The Ravens are also one of just four Northeast-10 Conference volleyball programs to collect the honor, as they are joined by Adelphi, Le Moyne and Saint Rose.
"I am very proud of our academic accomplishments; we have now been recognized on our own campus, at the Conference level and at the national level," said Head Coach Stephanie Dragan. "We take the student in 'student-athlete' very seriously. Not only do I push our student-athletes to work hard in the classroom, but they keep each other accountable as well."
The AVCA touts its Team Academic Award as one of the organization's fastest-growing awards programs. The program, which began in 1992-93, saw an increase in numbers for the seventh straight year and has seen a jump of 200% in the last 10 years.
The Ravens will open the 2012 campaign with a trip to the Marauder Clash, hosted by Millersville, for at least four matches on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in Millersville, Pa. Franklin Pierce's first home match is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 13 against Assumption at 7 p.m.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).