Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award for 2010-11
Ravens open 2011 season on Sept. 2
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RINDGE, N.H. (July 21, 2011) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team has been named as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2010-11 academic year, as announced Wednesday by the AVCA.
To be eligible for selection, a team must maintain a 3.30 grade-point average. In all, 478 teams earned the accolade throughout the collegiate and high school ranks. Franklin Pierce, with its 3.43 grade-point average, is one of 57 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, Stonehill and Saint Rose.
"I believe it is important for our team to be able to produce in the classroom and on the court, and this is simply one step in rebuilding our program," said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Stephanie Dragan. "I am very proud of our student-athletes and their hard work and dedication in the classroom."
The AVCA touts its Team Academic Award as one of the organization's fastest-growing awards programs. The program, which began in 1992-93, has grown 35% over the previous three years and has seen a jump of 174% in the last 10 years.
The Ravens are scheduled to open the 2011 campaign on Sept. 2-3 with four matches against Midwest schools at Saint Joseph's (Ind.).
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).