The Valparaiso University volleyball program received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2018-19 academic year, as announced by the AVCA today. It marks the 14th time in the last 16 seasons that the Crusaders have earned the award. In addition, Valpo was named to the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a cumulative team GPA which ranks among the top-25 in Division I volleyball.

The team academic award is given to college and high school teams which display excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The nominating head coaches must be AVCA members. Valpo was one of 189 Division I programs to be so honored this season and one of nine Missouri Valley Conference programs.

For the second time in the three years since the introduction of the honor, Valpo also earned a spot on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, which honors the programs among the best in their respective divisions in GPA.

Valpo’s continued commitment to success in the classroom has not hindered the program’s sustained success on the court. In the 14 seasons that Valpo has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award, the team has posted an overall record of 336-142 (.703).

The honors from the AVCA are just the latest academic awards for the Valpo volleyball program over the past year. Five Valpo student-athletes were MVC Scholar-Athletes, including a conference-best three selections as First Team Scholar-Athletes. Valpo also boasted a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees as well in graduated senior Allison Ketcham (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) and rising junior Rylee Cookerly (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg).