Record Number Earn Prestigious Volleyball Team Academic Award
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Aug. 1) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association has named a record-number 205 volleyball programs the recipients of the 2002-03 AVCA Team Academic Award, upping the previous best of 178 awarded last year (2001-02).
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 school year. Nominating head coaches must be AVCA members. Recipients of the award range from NCAA Division I institutions to high school girls' and boys' teams. The college ranks produced 102 programs that met the requirements for the award. The breakdown of college representation includes 35 NCAA Division I programs, 18 NCAA Division II programs, 26 NCAA Division III programs, 15 NAIA programs, one NCCAA institution and seven two-year college programs.
A record-total of 103 high school programs earned the distinction, including Crystal Springs Uplands School (Hillsborough, Calif.) and Wheeling High School (Wheeling, Ill.) placing both boys' and girls' squads on the award list. The previous high for the prep ranks was 84 awards in 1996-97. NAIA schools tied their top number, achieved in back-to-back years of 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Several of this year's award recipients achieved success on the court, as well as in the classroom. A total of 26 teams that earned the AVCA Team Academic Award also earned a berth in their respective collegiate post-season tournaments.
Over 600 different schools have won the award program's 11-year history. Three institutions have earned it every year, NCAA Division II Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Jonesboro High School (Jonesboro, Ark.) and Ross S. Sterling High School (Baytown, Texas).
Historically, schools from 49 states and two countries (outside the United States) have won the award. For 2002-03, the award-winning programs represent 42 states and Korea. Wisconsin boasts the most schools having earned the designation with 37 in the 11-year history of the program, and 15 this year. Illinois follows with 36 overall and 14 on the current list.
"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," Katherine McConnell, AVCA executive director said. "We are especially pleased to bestow this prestigious award to a record number of teams for the second year in a row."
Following is a list of the programs earning the 2002-03 AVCA Team Academic Award, including the name of the head coach for the 2002 season.
To Jump to Teams in Specific Category
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division II
NCAA Division III
NAIA
NCCAA
Two-Year College
High School
| NCAA Division I (35) | State | Head Coach |
| The University of Alabama | Ala. | Judy Green |
| American University | D.C. | Barry Goldberg |
| Birmingham-Southern College | Ala. | Tonya Charland |
| Bowling Green State University | Ohio | Denise Van De Walle |
| College of Charleston | S.C. | Sherry Dunbar |
| University of Denver | Colo. | Beth Kuwata |
| Duke University | N.C. | Jolene Nagel |
| Eastern Washington University | Wash. | Wade Benson |
| Gardner-Webb University | N.C. | Kellie Williams |
| Indiana State University | Ind. | Jim Bertoli |
| Indiana University | Ind. | Katie Weismiller |
| Iona College | N.Y. | Bob Weiner |
| Kansas State University | Kan. | Suzie Fritz |
| Lamar University | Texas | Fiona Bolten |
| Long Island University | N.Y. | Dinu Dan |
| Loyola University Chicago | Ill. | Liz Nelson |
| UMKC | Mo. | Steve Dallman |
| Montana State University | Mont. | Miya Malauulu |
| Morehead State University | Ky. | Mike Swan |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Neb. | John Cook |
| University of Northern Iowa | Iowa | Bobbi Petersen |
| University of Notre Dame | Ind. | Debbie Brown |
| Rice University | Texas | Jon Wilson |
| Robert Morris University | Pa. | Rob Thomas |
| Saint Louis University | Mo. | Marilyn Nolen |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Mo. | Cindy Gannon |
| Southern Illinois University | Ill. | Sonya Locke |
| Southwest Missouri State University | Mo. | Melissa Stokes |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Texas | Debbie Humphreys |
| University of Tennessee at Martin | Tenn. | Chris Rushing |
| University of Toledo | Ohio | Kent Miller |
| Virginia Tech | Va. | Greg Smith |
| Western Carolina University | N.C. | Angell K. Benson |
| Winthrop University | S.C. | Joel McCartney |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Wis. | Debbie Kirch |
| NCAA Division II (18) | State | Head Coach |
| Augustana College | S.D. | Kim Sudbeck Marcil |
| Bentley College | Mass. | Sandy Hoffman |
| Catawba College | N.C. | Ginger Crissman-Ashley |
| Chadron State College | Neb. | Dawn Brammer |
| Drury University | Mo. | Lawrence Anderson |
| Emporia State University | Kan. | Maxine Mehus |
| The University of Findlay | Ohio | Wick Colchagoff |
| Harding University | Ark. | Keith Giboney |
| Hillsdale College | Mich. | Chris Gravel |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Pa. | Carmine Cortazzo |
| Lewis University | Ill. | Karen K. Lockyer |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | Minn. | Jim Boos |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | Neb. | Rose Shires |
| Northern Kentucky University | Ky. | Carlos Chia |
| Northern State University | S.D. | Lisa Schriver |
| Pittsburg State University | Kan. | Ibraheem Suberu |
| Wayne State College (Neb.) | Neb. | Sharon Vanis |
| Western New Mexico University | N.M. | Jim Callender |
| NCAA Division III (26) | State | Head Coach |
| Buena Vista University | Iowa | Amy Sander |
| Carleton College | Minn. | Heidi Jaynes |
| Central College | Iowa | Megan Clayberg |
| Clark University | Mass. | Karen Farrell |
| Colorado College | Colo. | Rick Swan |
| Defiance College | Ohio | Deb Sazama |
| University of Dubuque | Iowa | Stacey Ruff |
| Frostburg State University | Md. | Jeff Billington |
| Grove City College | Pa. | Susan K. Roberts |
| Huntingdon College | Ala. | Terina Gantt |
| Lakeland College | Wis. | Chad Schreiber |
| Macalester College | Minn. | Steph Schleuder |
| Medaille College | N.Y. | Laura Edholm |
| Moravian College | Pa. | Shelley Bauder |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Neb. | Tom Symons |
| Ohio Northern University | Ohio | Kate Witte |
| Otterbein College | Ohio | Sharon Sexton |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | N.Y. | Roger Worsley |
| University of St. Thomas | Minn. | Cole Tallman |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Ga. | Glenn Cox |
| Skidmore College | N.Y. | Hilda Arrechea |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | N.J. | J.J. O'Connell |
| Wartburg College | Iowa | Jennifer Walker |
| University of Wisconsin Eau Claire | Wis. | Lisa Herb |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | Wis. | Sheila Perkins |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Wis. | Jill Jolliff |
| NAIA (15) | State | Head Coach |
| Briar Cliff University | Iowa | Mary Schroeder |
| Carlow College | Pa. | Julie Gaul |
| Concordia University | Neb. | Rebecca Ernstmeyer |
| Goshen College | Ind. | Kent Nafziger |
| University of Illinois at Springfield | Ill. | Joe Fisher |
| Midland Lutheran College | Neb. | Joan Rickert |
| Mount Marty College | S.D. | Tracey Thompson |
| Notre Dame College | Ohio | Shelly Miller |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Ill. | Brenda Williams |
| Peru State College | Neb. | Fred Aubuchon |
| College of Saint Mary | Neb. | Trish Siedlik |
| Southwestern College | Kan. | Julie Kondrade |
| Sterling College | Kan. | Mary Ver Steeg |
| Trinity Christian College | Ill. | Sue Gasperec |
| Urbana University | Ohio | Jeremy Wise |
| NCCAA (1) | State | Head Coach |
| Lincoln Christian College | Ill. | Kevin Crawford |
| Two-Year College (7) | State | Head Coach |
| Fort Scott Community College | Kan. | Angie Kemmerer |
| Hesston College | Kan. | Vanessa Schroeder |
| North Platte Community College | Neb. | Sally Thalken |
| Phoenix College | Ariz. | Patrick Mooney |
| Redlands College | Okla. | Kristin Berglan |
| Salt Lake Community College | Utah | Julie Morgan |
| Waldorf College | Iowa | Jody Dosser |
| High School (103) | State | Head Coach |
| Acadiana High School | La. | Anne Roger |
| Alpine High School | Texas | Rich Keith |
| Altoona High School | Wis. | Ron "Duff" Martin |
| Anahuac High School | Texas | Kelly Deutrich Hancock |
| Arvada High School | Colo. | Patti Hagemeyer |
| Asheville Christian Academy | N.C. | Andy Ramsey |
| Batavia High School | Ill. | Lori Trippi-Payne |
| Blue Valley West High School | Kan. | Terry Flynn |
| Bridgeport High School | Wash. | Calvin Stark |
| Broadwater High School | Mont. | Jill Flynn |
| Buckeye Union High School | Ariz. | Carol E. Jurn |
| Cactus Shadows High School | Ariz. | Karen Sitkiewicz |
| Castle High School | Ind. | Fred Bracher |
| Cathedral High School | Ind. | Jean Kesterson |
| Centennial High School | Md. | Larry Schofield |
| Central Catholic High School | Calif. | Dale Moren |
| Champion Christian High School | Calif. | Dan Swagerty |
| Charlotte Latin School | N.C. | Suzanne Pignetti |
| Coronado High School | Colo. | Joan Powell |
| Crystal Springs Uplands School Boys | Calif. | Robyn Erman |
| Crystal Springs Uplands School Girls | Calif. | Robyn Erman |
| Darien High School | Conn. | Laurie A. LaRusso |
| Darlington School | Ga. | Jim Linos |
| Deming High School | N.M. | Jerry Hekekia |
| Dubois High School | Wy. | Tina Baker |
| Emporia High School | Kan. | Kendra Dawson |
| Fergus High School | Mont. | Tara Taylor |
| Garden Spot High School | Pa. | Dennis Werner |
| Garfield High School | Wash. | Leslie Hamann |
| Gateway High School | Colo. | Gary Gustafson |
| Girard High School | Kan. | Dale Coomes |
| Greenfield High School | Wis. | Steve Landvatter |
| Harding Academy | Tenn. | Tod Traughber |
| Harrold ISD | Texas | Phil Corless |
| Hastings St. Cecilia High School | Neb. | Alan VanCura |
| Henry Clay High School | Ky. | Dale Grupe |
| Hettinger Public School | N.D. | Kevin Morast |
| Holbrook High School | Ariz. | Terra Strain |
| Houghton High School | Mich. | John Christianson |
| Immaculate Conception High School | Ill. | Jean Field |
| Iolani School | Hawaii | Ann Kang |
| Ironwood Ridge High School Girls | Ariz. | Bill Lang |
| Jackson Heights High School | Kan. | Joe Baumchen |
| Jackson Hole High School | Wy. | Sue Muncaster |
| Jenison High School | Mich. | Alana Kooi |
| Jonesboro High School | Ark. | Phil Parker |
| Kenosha Bradford High School | Wis. | Kyle Yackley |
| Kimberly High School | Wis. | Jeff Van Lannen |
| Lakeland Union High School | Wis. | Steve Prahl |
| Larkin High School | Ill. | Mary O'Brien |
| Lecanto High School | Fla. | Karen Dickson |
| Liberal High School | Mo. | Regina Proffitt |
| Loyola Academy | Ill. | Jenny Morris |
| Lutcher High School | La. | Ricky LeBlanc |
| Madison Plains High School | Ohio | Aaron Ridenour |
| Magic Valley Christian School | Idaho | John A. Morrison |
| Marian Central Catholic High School | Ill. | Deb Rakers |
| Martin Luther High School | Wis. | Steve Wright |
| Marysville High School | Mich. | John Knuth |
| Merrill High School | Wis. | Sally Pfund |
| Milwaukee Lutheran High School | Wis. | Sarah Bolz |
| Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School | Minn. | Julie Detjen |
| Moultonborough Academy | N.H. | John Garneau |
| Mountain View High School | Calif. | Gerrie Phillips |
| Nevis High School | Minn. | Janet Golden-Landquist |
| Norfolk Academy | Va. | Susie Fleenor |
| North Cobb High School | Ga. | Kim Robertson |
| Oak Park High School | Mo. | Ken Corum |
| Omaha Central High School | Neb. | Jodi Dierks |
| Pacelli High School | Wis. | Shelly Johnson |
| Paducah Tilghman High School | Ky. | Stephen G. Ybarzabal |
| Pender High School | Neb. | Scott Kneifl |
| Pine Grove Area High School | Pa. | Daryl Wessner |
| Port Isabel High School | Texas | Kristy Metzmaker |
| Red Land High School | Pa. | Jeff Floyd |
| River Valley High School | Wis. | Lisa Roelke |
| Ross S. Sterling High School | Texas | Nadine Horne |
| Seoul American High School | Korea | Denny Hilgar |
| Souhegan High School | N.H. | Candy J. Shirey |
| Southington High School | Conn. | Richard Heitz |
| St. Mark's School of Texas Boys | Texas | Kenneth Klenk |
| St. Martin's Episcopal School | La. | Linda Trevino |
| St. Peter's Prep Boys | N.J. | Don Guide |
| Stillwater Area High School | Minn. | Michele Parker |
| Stillwater High School | Okla. | Ryan Webber |
| Sunrise Mountain High School | Ariz. | Deb Moore |
| Tampa Preparatory School | Fla. | Paul McAdoo |
| Terre Haute South Vigo High School | Ind. | Brian Payne |
| Towson Catholic High School | Md. | Charlie Loskarn |
| Trinity Preparatory School | Fla. | Kathy Finnucan |
| Uvalde High School | Texas | Linda Lindsey |
| Victoria Memorial High School | Texas | Melinda Kirst |
| Wasatch High School | Utah | Joe Mellen |
| Watertown High School | S.D. | Karen Bossman |
| Wayzata High School | Minn. | Scott Jackson |
| Western Branch High School | Va. | Elizabeth W. Lett |
| Westlake High School | Texas | Al Bennett |
| Wheeling High School Boys | Ill. | Denise Van Huele |
| Wheeling High School Girls | Ill. | Rita Runyard |
| Whitehall High School | Pa. | Judith A. Harakal |
| Wilton High School | Conn. | Jim Liptack |
| Woodland Baptist Christian School | N.C. | Ed Roop |
| The Woodlands High School | Texas | Dustie Jarratt |
