USF Volleyball Nominated For AVCA Team Academic Award

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Courtesy USF

USF Volleyball Nominated For AVCA Team Academic Award

TAMPA, Fla. (June 11, 2007) – The University of South Florida volleyball team has been nominated for the Game Plan/American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award, achieving a team grade point average of 3.33 for the 2006-07 academic year.

“Our academic philosophy is designed to challenge our athletes to perform at the highest level possible in the classroom,” coach Claire Lessinger said. “We meet with each student-athlete at the beginning of each semester and discuss academic goals for each class. Our initiative is to motivate each individual by setting goals, setting standards and discussing strategies to accomplish the goals.

“We, as coaches, are committed to maintaining constant communication with each of our athletes in regards to their education and academic success. The process we use to do this is demanding yet beneficial. The coaching staff and the academic advisors work very closely with one another. Our athletes understand that their academic progress is the most important part of their collegiate experience and the results have been rewarding as a team and as individuals. Since we implemented this program we have maintained a team GPA of above 3.0, and this past semester we had the highest team GPA of any sport at USF. This was a first for the volleyball program.”

A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required for team to be considered for the award. The award winners will be announced at the end of July.

Nine USF volleyball players recorded a GPA of 3.0 of better on the year and the team’s GPA of 3.46 in the spring was the highest among USF’s athletics programs.