HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s volleyball program was named a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2003-04 Team Academic Award on Monday.
NKU was one of 31 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 161 programs that met the requirements for the award. This year marked the most awards earned in Division II (31), Division III (48) and NAIA (27). Division I women’s programs (46) and two-year colleges (7) listed their second-highest award totals, just shy of the 47 and nine respective classification records.
“The AVCA Team Academic Award captures the true essence of the student-athlete, and the AVCA is honored to recognize these schools for excellence in the classroom,” AVCA executive director Katherine McConnell said.
Five NKU volleyball players earned Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors last season, and Norse standout Kristin Koralewski was named the GLVC’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for volleyball in 2003. Koralewski was also the GLVC Player of the Year and an AVCA Division II first team All-America selection last season.
In addition to its academic excellence, NKU posted a 26-12 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament last season. The Norse defeated both the University of Findlay and Northern Michigan University during the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional at Marquette, Mich., before losing to Grand Valley State University in the championship match.
NCAA Division II volleyball programs honored by the AVCA and head coaches
University of Alabama-Huntsville, Laura Taube
Bellarmine University, Dee Dee Olmstead
Catawba College, Ginger Ashley
Central Missouri State University, Peggy Martin
Chadron State College, Dawn Brammer
Clarion University, Tracey Fluharty
Concordia (Minn.) University, Brady Starkey
Drury University, Lawrence Anderson
Emporia State University, Maxine Mehus
Harding University, Keith Giboney
Hillsdale College, Chris Gravel
Lewis University, Karen K. Lockyer
Mesa State College, Rusty Crick
Metro State College, Debbie Hendricks
Michigan Tech University, Krista Mikesch
University of Minnesota-Duluth, Jim Boos
Missouri Western State College, Cindy Brauck
University of Nebraska-Omaha, Rose Shires
University of North Dakota, Maria Bruggeman
North Dakota State University, Zaundra Bina
University of Northern Colorado, Ron Alexander
Northern Kentucky University, Carlos Chia
Northern State University, Lisa Schriver
Pittsburg State University, Ibraheem Suberu
Regis University, Frank Lavrisha
University of South Dakota, Brian Lamppa
Southern Arkansas University, Shawna Laurendine
St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Bill Rude
St. Mary's University (Texas), Todd Caughlin
Texas Woman's University, Shelly Barberee
Wayne (Neb.) State College, Sharon Vanis
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Kristin Koralewski |