ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College volleyball team is among 175 NCAA Division III volleyball programs to earn the Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, the organization announced today. This the ninth consecutive year that the Scots have received the honor, which recognizes teams for their academic 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 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Last fall, four Scots were honored by the MIAC with Academic All-Conference accolades: Nicole Bennington (Shelton, Wash./Olympia), rising seniors Hannah Detlaff (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire Memorial) and Ashley Helfinstein (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead), and rising junior Abrielle Dillon (Brown Deer, Wis./University School of Milwaukee).

Macalester was also recognized by the AVCA for achieving its fundraising goal for the Dig Pink initiative, which raises funding and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

This year the AVCA set a new record with 1,125 volleyball teams at the high school and collegiate levels receiving the Team Academic Award.

The Scots, coached by Sarah Graves, begin the 2019 season on Aug. 30 at the Saint Mary's Invitational.

Click here to read the AVCA Team Academic Award release.