LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of New Mexico’s volleyball team and beach volleyball team were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Monday, as both earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2017-18 academic year.
The Lobos’ indoor team finished with a 3.51 cumulative team GPA during the 2017-18 academic year, while the beach team logged a cumulative team GPA of of 3.64 during that time.
“This was an outstanding year academically for both of our volleyball teams,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “I could not be prouder of our performance in the classroom, with the beach team capping it off with being the top team at UNM this spring. It speaks volumes to our strong commitment to academics and our great support system and counselors.”
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 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
The indoor squad has earned the honor 10 times, previously being recognized by the AVCA in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Lobos have posted 13 straight semesters — and 31 in their last 32 — with at least a 3.0 GPA.
For beach, which wrapped up its fourth season of competition this past spring, this year’s honor is the second straight and second overall selection for the program. Over the course of the team’s history, the beach team has logged seven semesters with at least a 3.4 GPA.
164 Division I indoor teams earned the honor for the 2017-18 academic year, while 22 collegiate beach teams were recognized.