July 21, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky.– The University of New Mexico’s volleyball program has received the 2010-11 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. Under the direction of head coach Jeff Nelson, The Lobos were one of 92 NCAA Division I women’s teams to maintain a 3.30 or higher cumulative team grade point average (g.p.a.) during the 2010-11 academic year.
The award, which was initiated 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 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.
“Our team places a huge focus on academics and I am very proud of them for having earned another AVCA Team Academic Award,” Nelson said. “I think it’s great they are recognized for striving to do their best.”
Senior Kelly Williamson, who is the epitome of what a student athlete should represent, led the way for the Lobos last season by being named to the Academic All-Mountain West Team for the third consecutive year. She was also named the Lobo Club Student-Athlete of The Year for her community service contributions as well as for her academic excellence. She received the Cherry and Silver Award (team most valuable player) and Scholar Athlete Award and at UNM’s team banquet, along with the Jeanne Fairchild Endowed Scholarship. She was also selected to the Co-SIDA/ESPN Academic All-America Third Team last season.
“I’m very proud of the team,” Williamson said. “We take academics very seriously and i think the award is well deserved.”
This is the third year in a row the Lobos have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award and the sixth time overall – 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11.