By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tennessee Tech volleyball has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for its work in the classroom during the 2016-17 school year, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced this week.
The Team Academic Award, which was introduced by the AVCA in the 1992-93 academic year, 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.
Tech is one of 145 NCAA Division I programs and one of 10 Ohio Valley Conference programs to receive the honor for this past season.
"To go to a tech school and have this many people doing well and getting this high of a GPA is an accomplishment," said head coach Dave Zelenock. "These are real grades in engineering and nursing, and it's tough to get these grades. We put a lot of focus on it because there's not a lot of opportunity to play pro. This is what really matters at the end of the day."
Additionally, the Golden Eagles were recognized for reaching their Dig Pink fundraising goal, actually surpassing their goal of $1,500 to collect $1,641. Dig Pink is an initiative from the Side-Out Foundation, which raises funds for breast cancer research and support.
