Courtesy of Morgan State Athletic Communications


LEXINGTON, Ky., July 19, 2021 -- The Morgan State volleyball program was honored on Monday as a recipient of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2020-21 season. It is the second consecutive year and just the second time in program history that the Lady Bears have earned this award.
 
The award honors teams who have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.
 
Morgan State was announced as one of 1,275 teams that earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award. A record 243 NCAA Division I Women's programs were named 2021.
 
"I am so proud that the team met and exceed the minimum qualifications to be recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for the resiliency of hard-working and committed student-athletes," Morgan State head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier said. "The unprecedented nature of these last few months dealing with COVID presented multiple challenges, yet the student-athletes showed they are just as competitive off the court as they are on it." 
 
"Student-athlete academic success is among our proudest accomplishments. I am proud of my student-athlete's ability to achieve these marks under these unique circumstances due to their strength and perseverance through adversity."  

The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale.
 
Morgan State posted a team GPA of 3.62 for the academic year, up from last year's 3.48 when it earned the award for the 2019-20 season.

ABOUT THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Service in the Marine Corps is a noble path and demanding journey reserved for those with the willingness to engage and the determination to exceed all mental, moral and physical requirements to become Marines.
 
The Marine Corps engages in national partnerships that provide valuable opportunities to spread public awareness of the Marine Corps' purpose by connecting the brand to those communities it serves. The relationships established between the Corps and our nation's athletic communities ensure our message of aspirational service resonates with coaches, athletes and their influencers.
 
The 2021 United States Marine Corp partnership with AVCA has been developed to engage with key publics that are integral to meeting recruiting objectives. The United States Marine Corps looks forward to building enduring relationships with the AVCA member community and lending our support to those coaches and athletic facilitators who help young Americans win battles every day.
 
ABOUT AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 7,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. The association celebrates its 40^th anniversary in 2021. Further information is available at www.avca.org.