LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hartford volleyball was one of 277 NCAA Division I programs honored with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, earning the award for the sixth year in a row. Additionally, the Hawks are listed on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, which recognizes the top-46 team GPAs among Division I teams.
The AVCA Team Academic Award was created in 1992-93 and honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year. This year, a record 1,313 teams received the award, breaking the record set last year by nearly 200 teams.
The volleyball team had yet another successful stretch in the classroom, combining for a 3.86 team GPA over the 2019-20 academic year. After posting a 3.83 team GPA in Fall 2019, the Hawks set the pace in Spring 2020 with a 3.92 GPA, the highest among Hartford's 17 Division I teams.
"Receiving the AVCA Team Academic Award is a wonderful acknowledgement," said head coach
Vinh Nguyen. "After doing so well in the Fall 2019 semester with a 3.82 team GPA, there was concern that the challenges that the student-athletes faced this spring when classes went remote would impact their grades. Our team demonstrated true fortitude and finished the Spring 2020 semester with a 3.92 GPA."
Each of the 14 members of the volleyball team posted at least a 3.0 GPA this past academic year, with 12 of those student-athletes achieving at least a 3.75. Most impressively, four volleyball players — rising senior
Megan Anderson, recent graduate
Nicole Etta, rising sophomore
Robin Helms and rising senior
Abby Nash — turned in perfect 4.0 GPAs over the Fall 2019 and Fall 2020 semesters.
"A special 'thank you' goes to our academic advisors,
Denise Marchese and
Molly Socha, for all of their support and guidance throughout the spring," Nguyen said. "We couldn't be prouder of our student-athletes and everything they have accomplished in the classroom this past year."
Two Hawks were recognized by the America East for their excellence on the court and in the classroom this past season. Recent graduate
Jenna Bridges, a two-time America East Player of the Year recipient who became the first All-American in program history, joined Anderson in earning All-Academic Team honors.
The Hawks also put together a solid season on the court in 2019. Finishing third in the America East standings, Hartford made a run to the conference's championship game for just the second time in program history, where the Hawks fell to top-seeded UAlbany in five sets. The Hawks finished 16-13 in Nguyen's second season at the helm.
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