Volleyball earns academic honor

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Continuing a strong tradition of success in the classroom, the Simpson volleyball team recently earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2014-15 season, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

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 Storm collected the honor for the seventh season in a row and ninth overall under 16th-year head coach Lana Smith. Simpson has achieved at least 3.30 cumulative each season since 2008-09.

In all, a record 757 teams earned the award. Central, Coe, Dubuque, Luther and Wartburg joined Simpson as Iowa Conference representatives. Future league member Nebraska Wesleyan also made the list.

Simpson's 2015 schedule begins Sept. 2 at the Iowa Wesleyan Triangular when the Storm face Iowa Wesleyan and Mt. Mercy.