Volleyball recognized for academic excellence

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson volleyball team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2008-2009 season, as announced in the AVCA official release on Tuesday.

The award, which was initiated during 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.

"I am extremely proud of our team," head coach Lana Smith said. "The women take pride in their academic success as well as their commitment to volleyball. I feel fortunate to work with these fine student-athletes on the court while celebrating their academic achievements off the court."

A record 409 teams nation-wide earned the award, including programs in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Two-Year Colleges. High school boys, high school girls and NCCAA schools also contributed to the total, which is up from 354 in 2007-08.

Simpson is one of 77 NCAA Division III teams to receive the honor. Fellow IIAC programs Cornell and Wartburg were also recognized.

In 2008 the Storm reached the NCAA Championships for the second time in three years after finishing second in the Iowa Conference. Simpson tallied an overall record of 20-15 while going 7-1 in the IIAC, dropping their only conference match to IIAC-Champion, Loras.

Losing only two seniors from last year's squad and returning four all-conference performers, Simpson once again has high hopes for the 2009 season. The Storm begins the campaign at the Puget Sound Invitational in Tacoma, Wash. Sept. 4-5 before hosting Cornell in the home-opener Sept. 9 at Cowles Fieldhouse.