LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Northwestern volleyball team was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the eleventh straight year. With UNW included, the AVCA list had a record-high 1,125 teams awarded for their outstanding academic excellence this year, respectively. 

The Eagles were one of 175 NCAA Division III teams to earn the accolade this season. The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, 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 team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The AVCA Team Academic Award is the single largest award offered by quantity of schools, players and coaches honored. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients has increased every single year but two, while more than doubling the total over the last eight academic years. Since the award's inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 1,125.

The Eagles will kick off the 2019 season inside the Ericksen Center on Friday, August 30, as they host the two-day Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational. For more information, fans should visit www.unweagles.com and follow @unwvb on Twitter and Instagram. 

2018-19 BREAKDOWN BY CLASSIFICATION
NCAA Division I Women: 189 
NCAA Division II Women: 141
NCAA Division III Women: 175 
NAIA Women: 51 
Two-Year College: 21 
NCCAA: 1
Collegiate Men: 19 
High School Girls: 444 (5 sand) 
High School Boys: 43 
Collegiate Beach: 41

You can find 2018-19's list of recipients by clicking here.