LEXINGTON, Ky. - The United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today that more than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams have earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.

The Webster University volleyball team finished the academic year with a cumulative grade point average of 3.63 which ranks them in the top 20% of all of Division III women's volleyball programs. They joined Fontbonne (Mo.) University and Greenville (Ill.) University as the only three programs from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to win the award.

This marks the 14^th straight season that the Webster University volleyball team has been recognized with the Team Academic Award and the 16^th time overall. It is also the third time in program history that they have finished in the top 20% which earned them a spot on the Honor Roll.

"It's an honor to work with this impressive group of young women." Said Head Volleyball Coach, Merry Graf. "They work hard on the court and in the classroom.  It's clear they understand the importance of their education and realize the success they achieve in the classroom will translate to all aspects of their lives."

About the AVCA
The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches' association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,000 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at avca.org.