Panthers' volleyball team earns AVCA academic award

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University women's volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2007-08 school year. The Panthers garnered a team grade-point average of 3.4 last year and were one of 62 NCAA Division III schools to receive the honor.

It's the first such honor for Chapman, which joins Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges as the only three Division III schools in California to earn the award last year. The Panthers were 16-10 in 2007; their fifth consecutive season with a winning mark.

The mission of the AVCA is to develop and grow the sport of volleyball. Members are comprised of national and international coaches, collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as club directors. Chapman head coach is embarking on her 20th season as head coach of the Panthers and is a member of the AVCA.