July 20, 2012

2011-12 AVCA Team Academic Award Recipients
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that 533 teams have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2011-2012 season, which includes the Sun Devil volleyball team.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that display excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

"This is a wonderful way in which the AVCA recognizes the academic pursuits of our student-athletes," said head coach Jason Watson. "I know our athletes take great pride in their school work as they understand the significance and importance of their college education."

The Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA's fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients has increased every single year but one, while amassing an overall 200% increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award's inception in 1993, the award has risen by an astounding 760%. NCAA Division I recorded their highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 102 programs.

Sun Devil VB has been recognized by the @AVCAVolleyball for their outstanding work in the classroom. This is 3rd recognition in 4 years.

-- Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) July 20, 2012

Over 1,000 different schools have earned the award in the program's 20-year history, with exactly 4,827 awards been given out in total.

Pac-12 Schools Honored for 2011-12
Arizona State University
Oregon State University
Stanford University
University of California - Berkeley
University of Oregon
University of Utah

Breakdown By Classification
Division Number of recipients Percent Breakdown*
NCAA Division I Women 102 19.14%
NCAA Division II Women 67 12.57%
NCAA Division III Women 90 16.89%
NAIA Women 33 6.19%
Two-Year College Women 13 2.44%
NCCAA Women 1 0.19%
NCAA Collegiate Men 7 1.31%
High School (Girls and Boys) 220 41.28%
High School Girls 198
High School Boys 22

* Percentage is based on each category's breakdown of the total 2011-2012 Team Academic recipients.

About the AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to develop and grow the sport of volleyball; with a membership of over 5,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and developing the sport. Members are comprised of national and international coaches, collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as club directors. Other members include former players, officials, media members and other friends of volleyball. As a group, the AVCA is committed to the development, growth, advancement and publicity of volleyball throughout the world. Further information is available at www.avca.org.