LEXINGTON, Ky. -- For the 11th consecutive season, the John Brown University volleyball team has been awarded the United States Marine Corps / American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, this time for the 2021-22 season, the AVCA national office recently announced.
JBU's accolade streak now reaches its 11th year in a row, first coming in 2011-12, continuing the fifth-longest active streak in the NAIA. The Golden Eagles are one of three SAC teams to receive the award this season, joining Oklahoma City and Wayland Baptist (Texas). The volleyball squad finished the 2021-22 academic year boasting a 3.45 grade-point average, including six NAIA Scholar-Athletes, which requires a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, and 11 Sooner Athletic Commissioner's Honor Roll recipients, which requires a 3.0 grade-point average.
"I am so proud of our young women and their commitment to the same level of excellence in the classroom as on the court.," noted head coach Ken Carver.
"Earning this prestigious award is comparable to winning a conference or national championship banner. It is one of the highest academic-related goals our team strives for each year and for the eleventh year in a row we can proudly say 'mission accomplished'. Balancing the rigors of intercollegiate sports, academic responsibilities and being involved in the greater community is no small feat. To be successful in this endeavor takes a tremendous amount of dedication, focus and commitment from our student-athletes."
The AVCA Team Academic Award is the single largest award offered by quantity of schools, players and coaches honored. To qualify for the award, teams must maintain at least a year-long GPA of 3.30.
Ken Carver: Futher Comments »
"Additionally, it takes the support and assistance from our faculty who do an excellent job in teaching and equipping of all our students and supporting the unique needs of our student-athletes, especially when they are in their competitive seasons. Beyond our faculty, support from the residence life staff, academic support services and our counseling center all contribute to creating an environment where our student-athletes can excel and thrive. Finally, beyond each individual student-athlete's performance in the classroom, I want to acknowledge and thank our players, as a collective whole, for the support, accountability and encouragement they provide to each other that contributes to our team's academic success. I'm proud of our team's sustained level of excellence and look forward to working alongside of them as we begin the pursuit of our twelfth-straight award in the coming academic year."
About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of almost 7,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Twitter (@JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and Facebook (/JBUathletics). Catch every Golden Eagle home game and select away games on the SAC Sports Network, available online or for download on your favorite streaming device.
