Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award for 2013-14
Ravens earn accolade for fifth straight year
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As a team, the Ravens put together a 3.50 grade-point average
during the 2013-14 academic year.RINDGE, N.H. (August 5, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team has been named as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2013-14 academic year, as announced Monday by the AVCA.
To be eligible for selection, a team must maintain a 3.30 grade-point average. In all, 676 teams earned the accolade throughout the collegiate and high school ranks. Franklin Pierce, which earned the award for the fifth straight season with its 3.50 grade-point average, was one of 94 NCAA Division II women's programs to earn the distinction. The Ravens are also one of just five Northeast-10 Conference volleyball programs to collect the honor, as they are joined by Adelphi, Bentley, New Haven and Saint Rose.
"I am very proud of our continued academic accomplishments; we are regularly recognized on our own campus, at the Conference level and at the national level," said head coach Stephanie Dragan. "While I certainly push our student-athletes to work hard in the classroom, they routinely hold each other accountable as well. They prove, time and time again, they understand the 'student' half of being a student-athlete is just as important as the 'athlete' half."
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 ninth straight year and has seen a jump of 500% in the last 10 years.
The Ravens will open the 2014 campaign with a trip to the GCU Lions Invitational, hosted by Georgian Court, for four matches on Sept. 6 and 7 in Lakewood, N.J. Franklin Pierce's first home match is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 against Bentley at 1 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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce volleyball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).