MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team has earned a Team Academic Award, the American Volleyball Coaches Association has recently announced. The Skyhawks, who earned a 3.49 Grade Point Average for the 2011-12 campaign, were one of only 19 percent of NCAA Division I squads to receive the award.
UT Martin was one of six Ohio Valley Conference teams to earn the award from the AVCA, who instituted the award in the 1992-93 academic year. The AVCA 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 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
This marks the second time in as many years that the Skyhawk volleyball team has posted its highest GPA under head coach Darrin McClure, who enters his fifth season at the helm this fall.
“I am very proud of our team for achieving this award for the second straight season,” McClure said. “We have always strived to work hard in the classroom and this recognition reflects that attitude.”
Ten different Skyhawks tallied GPA’s of 3.5 or higher last season, led by three perfect 4.0 GPA’s (Jenna Miller, Kasey Elswick, Britany Wilburn). Brandy Dennis and Jackie Harter also recorded 4.0 GPA’s during the fall semester, while Kelly Hogan posted a 4.0 GPA in the spring of 2012.