LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Hampton University volleyball team earned the 2012-13 Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

“I am so proud to be a part of this amazing group of women and look forward to continued support of their academic excellence,” first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said.

"Excellence doesn't happen by accident, either on the court or in the classroom," AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer said. "It takes consistent preparation, relentless effort, and determined leadership. A full year of academic achievement, by an entire team of individual students, is a remarkable achievement.”

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 or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

In all, the AVCA recognized a record 623 teams – including 131 women’s Division I programs. Hampton was one of two MEAC programs to be honored, along with Coppin State.