Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs pick up seventh-straight AVCA Team Academic Award
7/25/2016 11:15:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Initiated in 1992, the AVCA Team Academic Award is granted to programs that display a 3.30 or higher cumulative grade-point average combined for the fall and spring academic terms. The Bulldog volleyball program boasts a seven-year consecutive streak being awarded for their academic excellence due to hard work and dedication in the classroom.
"I am so proud to be part of a program that values education," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "Our staff tirelessly mentors these young student-athletes on a weekly basis to push them to strive for high marks- proof that they truly understand the material and are taking something from each class. Our Student-Athlete Services Department makes it their daily mission to keep our young women on track to reaching their educational goals. My team deserves much of the credit as they have bought into the core values of this program and work hard to be the very best they can on and off the court. We thank the AVCA for valuing team efforts and education as much as we do and honoring us with this award for the seventh-year in a row."
The 'Dogs were among an all-time record breaking 762 teams who earned the award, 131 of which are NCAA Division I women's programs. Fresno State is joined by four other Mountain West members UNLV, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming, after being one of four representatives in 2014-15.
"Congratulations to the coaches and institutions that won the 2016 AVCA Team Academic Award," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "It is no accident that a volleyball coaches association recognizes academic excellence as a team, rather than an individual, achievement. Players influence each other, both in execution on the court and discipline in the classroom."
Along with the team recognition, 10 Bulldogs earned individual MW academic all-conference honors. Recently graduated Zana Bowens was joined by current student-athletes Maggie Eppright, Brielle Hefner, Jacqueline Hutcheson, Brooke Legaux, Carly Scarbrough, Taylor Slover and Gertu Vider along with Jordyn Griggs and Sabrina Winslow. Five 'Dogs also earned MW Scholar-Athlete honors with a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or higher as Eppright, Hefner, Scarbrough, Slover and Aleksandra Lozanova were honored.
Under Netherby-Sewell's eight-year leadership, Fresno State has been impressively awarded several academic accolades. Cecilia Agraz was pegged the program's first Capital One Academic All-American in 2011 while being named Academic All-District (2010, '11) along with three-time recipient Marissa Brand (2011, '12, '13). The Bulldogs compiled 28 WAC All-Academic accolades (2008-11) and have earned 43 MW all-academic honors in four years as members of the Mountain West.
The 'Dogs ranked second in the Mountain West behind UNLV in individual academic accolades this year and capped the 2015-16 academic year with an impressive team GPA of 3.38.
To view the entire list of recipients click HERE.
BREAKDOWN BY CLASSIFICATION
NCAA Division I Women (131)
NCAA Division II Women (119)
NCAA Division III Women (140)
NAIA Women (54)
Two-Year College (16)
NCCAA (3)
Collegiate Men (11)
High School Girls (260) (1 sand)
High School Boys (22)
College Sand (6)
TOTAL RECIPIENT HISTORY
2015-16: 762
2014-15: 757
2013-14: 687
2012-13: 623
2011-12: 536
2010-11: 481
2009-10: 450
2008-09: 409
2007-08: 354
2006-07: 308
2005-06: 287
2004-05: 276
2003-04: 305
2002-03: 205
2001-02: 178
2000-01: 130
1999-00: 140
1998-99: 149
1997-98: 132
1996-97: 134
1995-96: 116
1994-95: 83
1993-94: 98
1992-93: 62
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