For the first time in five years, the Ball State University women's volleyball team earned a national academic award.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Tuesday that the Cardinals were one of 71 Division I women's volleyball teams to earn the Team Academic Award for the 2008-09 season.
To be eligible for this award a team must average at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
Coach Dave Boos said it is a great award for his team, especially because it had 10 new players in the 2008 season.
"To have that many players buy into the culture of academic excellence in college was a pleasant surprise," he said.
This is the first time since 2004 the Cardinals have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award.
Boos said his coaching staff's ability to recruit well-rounded athletes made it possible for Ball State to win this award. The third-year head coach also said he views these type of awards similar to achievements on the court.
"It's different, but equally rewarding for the coaching staff," Boos said. "We always talk about having a balanced outlook on athletics, and we have a lot of support for academic services."
The AVCA Team Academic Award was given to 409 high school and college volleyball teams, including both men's and women's teams. The Ball State men's volleyball team was not one of the four NCAA men's volleyball teams to receive this award.
The Cardinals were one of seven Mid-American Conference teams to earn the AVCA Team Academic Award. Boos said more than half of the teams in the conference being honored is impressive, especially after three MAC teams advanced the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
"It's the best the MAC has been in volleyball both on the court and excelling in the classroom," he said. "This is the most up and coming conference in volleyball."
The Cardinals finished the 2008 season in fourth place in the MAC West Division and advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals. Ball State will open its 2009 season against Purdue University on Aug. 28 in West Lafayette.
With every starter returning from last season's team, Boos said he is excited to see his team continue to develop throughout this upcoming season.
"We have nice group of players that are going to excell on court and that are already excelling in classroom," Boos said.
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