Wittenberg Women's Volleyball Earns 13th AVCA Team Academic Award
After posting a sterling cumulative team grade point average of 3.5 for the 2014-15 school year, Wittenberg women's volleyball was recognized nationally with a Team Academic Award.
Springfield, Ohio – For the 13th time since the inception of the award in 1993, Wittenberg University’s volleyball team has earned an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.
The award annually honors men’s and women’s college and high school teams that display excellence in the classroom 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 during the school year. Wittenberg is one of 725 programs overall, including 140 in NCAA Division III, to earn a Team Academic Award for the 2014-15 school year. The Tigers are among five North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) squads to make the list.
Eight Tiger student-athletes made the Dean’s List during the spring 2015 semester, including four with a grade point average of 3.9 or better. The team’s cumulative grade point average for the entire 2014-15 school year was a sparkling 3.5.
“The work that the young women in the Wittenberg women’s volleyball program did both in the classroom and on the court during the 2014-15 school year was nothing short of exceptional,” said Wittenberg Head Coach Paco Labrador, who enters his 11th year at the helm with a sparkling 377-59 overall record, good for an .865 winning percentage that ranks second among active college coaches, regardless of division. “I am proud of each of the student-athletes in the program for pushing themselves to achieve at the highest level possible.”
Recipients of the award include men’s and women’s programs at NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, two-year colleges and high schools throughout the country. Wittenberg has been recognized by the AVCA 13 times.
Not only did the Tigers excel on the court in 2014, but they posted a 29-4 overall record en route to NCAC regular season and tournament titles – both for the 20th time in the last 21 years. Wittenberg reached its 20th NCAA Division III Tournament and was ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout the 2014 campaign before bowing out in the Round of 16 to eventual national champion Hope by a narrow 3-2 margin.
Wittenberg heads into the 2015 season with just two graduation losses, although they will be difficult individuals to replace in starting libero Kiah Murray and All-NCAC setter Meghan Vodopich. The Tigers have plenty of talent returning, however, led by three-time All-American right-side hitter Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and 2014 third-team All-American middle hitter Emily Kahlig (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater).
Their quest for the ultimate prize – the program’s second national championship – starts in 2015 a road trip to Otterbein on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Later that week, Wittenberg will host its annual Courtyard Marriott National Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5. The Tigers are scheduled to take on perennial national powers St. Thomas, Johns Hopkins and Juniata in the event.
Written By: Ryan Maurer