LEXINGTON, Ky. - The West Liberty University volleyball team excelled in the classroom and has earned a USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2021-22 academic year. This is the seventh straight year that the Hilltoppers have been honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

"I am very proud of how dedicated our student-athletes are to their academics.  It shows that our volleyball team at WLU takes pride to succeed in the classroom just as much as we want to succeed on the court," Coach Riley Schenk said. "They are a great group of women who deserve this award and recognition for their hard work!"

West Liberty posted impressive numbers in both semesters. The team had a 3.60 grade point average (gpa), with five perfect 4.00's, at winter recess, then followed that up with a spring semester team gpa of 3.55 and five players with a perfect gpa again. A 3.00 gpa or better was notched by 15 Hilltoppers in both semesters. Meanwhile, 14 had a 3.50, or better, in the fall and 13 reached that mark in the spring.

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. More than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams have earned the honor this year.