Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University's volleyball team was one of a record 481 high school and college programs to earn a 2010-11 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, annually honors men's and women's college and high school teams that display excellence in the classroom 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 during the school year.

"This award is a great example of how important work ethic is OFF the court," said Wittenberg Head Coach Paco Labrador, who enters his ninth year at the helm with a sparkling 259-38 overall record, good for a .872 winning percentage that ranks second among active college coaches, regardless of division. "I am proud of each of my student-athletes for pushing themselves to be excellent students during the day and hard-working competitors in the evening."

Recipients of the award include men's and women's programs at NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, two-year colleges and high schools throughout the country. Wittenberg has been recognized by the AVCA 11 times, the second-highest total in the country.

The Tigers are one of just two North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) squads to make the list in 2010-11. In addition to the student-athletes' classroom exploits that amounted to a team grade point average of 3.4, the Tigers posted a 32-3 overall record in 2010, including NCAC regular season and tournament titles – both for the 15th time in the last 16 years. Wittenberg reached its 16th NCAA Division III Tournament and was ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout the 2010 campaign.

Wittenberg heads into the 2011 season with just one graduation loss, but that's a big one in All-American setter Amy Cox, class of 2011 from Newark, Ohio. The Tigers are led by a stellar senior class, which includes 2010 All-Great Lakes Region middle hitters Katie Sumner, class of 2012 from Dublin, Ohio, and Miranda Sagle, class of 2012 from Springfield, Ohio, and second-team All-NCAC outside hitter Kimmie Dyer, class of 2012 from Copley, Ohio.

Their quest for the ultimate prize — a national championship — in 2011 starts with Wittenberg's National Invitational on Friday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Tigers take on perennial national powers Emory, Juniata and Maryville.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence

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