HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s volleyball program was named a recipient of the Game Plan/American Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2004-05 Team Academic Award on Friday.

NKU was one of 26 NCAA Division II members which received the honor from the AVCA. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors college and high school teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale and a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale during the previous school year.

Recipients of the award range from NCAA Division I institutions to high school girls’ and boys’ teams. The college ranks produced 148 programs that met the requirements for the award. NCAA Division I schools earned the mark at 45 schools and fell two short of the overall record of 47 Division I schools receiving the distinction in 2001-2002. NCAA Division II (26) and NCAA Division III (43) charted the second-highest numbers in program history.

“The Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award embodies the true meaning of the student-athlete concept, and the AVCA is honored to recognize these schools for excellence in the classroom,” said Katherine McConnell, AVCA executive director. “We congratulate the student-athletes, as well as the coaches and school administrations, for maintaining balance between academics and athletics.”

NKU, which is coached by Carlos Chia, also posted a 22-9 record last season and advanced to the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.