LEXINGTON, Ky. - For the 13th consecutive year, the Montevallo volleyball team has earned the United States Marine Core/American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for their excellence in the classroom.   This year marks the third in a row that the Falcons finished in the top 20% of GPA's for all of NCAA Division II.

"Our team works hard in the classroom and this year was exceptionally challenging.  We are proud of them," remarked head coach Katie O'Brien.

The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale.  Additionally, the top 20% of team GPA's from each division are designated as Team Academic Honor Roll schools, representing the highest scholarly achievement in our sport.

"Even though teams might not have played during their usual season or may not have competed at all during the past year, coaches still found ways to lead their players to academic excellence." said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "This is a testament to the important role volleyball coaches play in their players success both on and off the court."

About the United States Marine Corps

Service in the Marine Corps is a noble path and demanding journey reserved for those with the willingness to engage and the determination to exceed all mental, moral and physical requirements to become Marines.

The Marine Corps engages in national partnerships that provide valuable opportunities to spread public awareness of the Marine Corps' purpose by connecting the organization to those communities it serves. The relationships established between the Marine Corps and our nation's athletic communities ensure our message of aspirational service resonates with coaches, athletes and their influencers.

The 2021 United States Marine Corps partnership with AVCA has been developed to build enduring relationships with the AVCA member community and lend our support to those coaches and athletic facilitators who help young Americans win battles every day.

About AVCA

The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 7,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport.

Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. The association celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021. Further information is available at www.avca.org.