LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Trine volleyball team has been recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a recipient of an AVCA Team Academic Award.
This is the fourth-consecutive year the Thunder have earned the recognition. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale. As a team, Trine earned a 3.66 GPA during the 2015-16 school year. A total of 140 NCAA Division III teams were honored by the AVCA. A record 762 teams across the high school and collegiate ranks received recognition this season.
Trine's academic performance ranked seventh among all Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association athletic teams during the 2015-16 school year. The GPA earned by the Thunder led all MIAA volleyball teams.
Ten team members were recognized on the MIAAs Academic Honor Roll, which recognizes student-athletes who have maintained at least a 3.50 GPA and lettered in a conference-sponsored sport. Honorees included Mikayla Carpenter (Huntington, Ind. / Huntington North), Madison Cook (Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble), Olivia Deck (Lansing, Mich. / Grand Ledge), Caroline Hipskind (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Bishop Dwenger), Bridget Marlow (Trafalgar, Ind. / Indian Creek), Annie Phillips (Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville), Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind. / Muncie Central), Shannon Scott (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg), Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind. / Franklin Community) and Megan Verkamp (Franklin, Ind. / Franklin Community).
"Congratulations to the coaches and institutions that won the 2016 AVCA Team Academic Award," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "It is no accident that a volleyball coaches association recognizes academic excellence as a team, rather than an individual, achievement. Players influence each other, both in execution on the court and discipline in the classroom."
The AVCA is a national coaching organization with membership that spans the high school and collegiate ranks. The association's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development.
Trine opens its season Saturday, Sep. 2 at the Ohio Northern University Volleyball Invitational. The Thunder will face the host Polar Bears, as well as Thomas More on the opening day of competition.
