Monday, August 15, 2005

Colorado Springs, Colo. – The Belmont volleyball team has been honored as a recipient of the Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award. The Bruins posted a 3.44 grade point average (GPA) for the 2004-2005 school year. Belmont is one of 45 NCAA Division I institutions and only one of two A-Sun schools to be honored with this academic award.

The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors college 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. The award is given annually by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Belmont posted the 12th highest GPA in NCAA Division I this past season and they are one of two Tennessee schools that made the top-15.

"I am thrilled to see our team ranked so highly,” said Deane Webb, Belmont’s head coach. “It is an impressive achievement to do well in the classroom at a school that is as respected and academically challenging as Belmont. This award, combined with the improvements that our team made on the court last year, is a testament to the kind of student athletes that are in our program and that continue to be attracted to Belmont."

The Bruins finished the 2004 season with an overall record of 21-8 and lost in the finals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament to Jacksonville in five games. Five Bruins earned All-Atlantic Sun honors last season. Colleen Nilson and Lindsey Cleveland were named to the Atlantic Sun first team, while Sara Jacobson earned All-Conference second team. Nilson, Jaye Schuler, and Brittany Card were all named to the A-Sun All-Freshman team, with Nilson earning Freshman of the Year honors.

Belmont opens its 2005 season on August 26 versus North Texas at the Arkansas Tournament.