LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball program was recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, as the Soaring Eagles were once again recipients of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

EC was one of the 1,127 teams from across all divisions of collegiate and high school volleyball. The 1,127 teams are 154 higher than the total from 2018 and that total stands as an all-time high for the AVCA.

NCAA Division III institutions were well represented on this year's rendition of the awards list, as 176 schools received the honor. The Purple and Gold were one of four current members of the Empire 8 Conference to earn the recognition, joining Alfred, St. John Fisher, and Sage.

In order to be eligible for the AVCA Team Academic Award, a program must have at least a 3.30 grade-point average on a 4.00 scale. Elmira rightfully earned its place among the award winners after accumulating a 3.61 team GPA during the 2018-19 academic year.

About the 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. Further information is available at www.avca.org.