Volleyball Programs Earn USMC-AVCA Team Academic Award
July 19, 2021 | Men's Volleyball, Women's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - - The Ball State men's and women's volleyball programs were two of 1,275 teams nationwide to earn the United States Marine Corps (USMC) - American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2020-2021 season.
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The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs which display 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.
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On the women's side, the Cardinals earned a spot on the Team Academic Honor Roll after placing in the top 20% of team GPA's from the record 243 NCAA Division I programs receiving the honor. Led by sixth-year head coach Kelli Miller Phillips, the Cardinals achieved a 3.71 team GPA for the 2020-21 academic year.
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Freshman Lauren Gilliland led the way in the classroom, compiling a perfect 4.0 in her first year at Ball State. Senior Kia Holder also finished her collegiate career with a 4.0 during the 2021 spring term. This is the 11th time Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award, and the fifth straight season.
On the men's side, the Cardinals finished the academic year with a 3.46 team GPA. Freshmen Lukas Pytlak and Mark Wickstrom paced the squad with 3.96 GPAs, with Pytlak earning a 4.0 in the fall and Wickstrom tallying a 4.0 in the spring. In addition, sophomore Bryce Behrendt, graduate transfer Angelos Mandilaris and senior Will Hippe all recorded 4.0 GPAs in the spring.
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Overall, the men have earned the honor for six straight seasons, with the total ranking third among NCAA Division I-II men's program. The 2022 season will mark the debut of Donan Cruz who was named the men's head coach on June 16 following the retirement of 23-year head coach Joel Walton.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @BallStateMVB on Twitter.
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The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs which display 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.
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On the women's side, the Cardinals earned a spot on the Team Academic Honor Roll after placing in the top 20% of team GPA's from the record 243 NCAA Division I programs receiving the honor. Led by sixth-year head coach Kelli Miller Phillips, the Cardinals achieved a 3.71 team GPA for the 2020-21 academic year.
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Freshman Lauren Gilliland led the way in the classroom, compiling a perfect 4.0 in her first year at Ball State. Senior Kia Holder also finished her collegiate career with a 4.0 during the 2021 spring term. This is the 11th time Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award, and the fifth straight season.
On the men's side, the Cardinals finished the academic year with a 3.46 team GPA. Freshmen Lukas Pytlak and Mark Wickstrom paced the squad with 3.96 GPAs, with Pytlak earning a 4.0 in the fall and Wickstrom tallying a 4.0 in the spring. In addition, sophomore Bryce Behrendt, graduate transfer Angelos Mandilaris and senior Will Hippe all recorded 4.0 GPAs in the spring.
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Overall, the men have earned the honor for six straight seasons, with the total ranking third among NCAA Division I-II men's program. The 2022 season will mark the debut of Donan Cruz who was named the men's head coach on June 16 following the retirement of 23-year head coach Joel Walton.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @BallStateMVB on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
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