The University of Utah's volleyball team isn't just spiking balls; they're hitting the books hard enough to earn some top academic honors. The team recently bagged the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, signaling that they're not only athletes but scholars as well. Maintaining a collective grade-point average of 3.3 or higher, the Utes have shown that brains and brawn can indeed play on the same court.
"Success in the classroom and on the court are hard to separate," said Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere, as per UtahUtes.com. Her squad seems to embody this ethos thoroughly, juggling volleys and textbooks with equal aplomb. Their efforts in academic excellence are a part of a rising trend among volleyball teams; this year, a hefty 1,450 collegiate and high school volleyball programs took home the same academic distinction.
But it's not the first time that Utah Volleyball's academic prowess has been highlighted. According to UtahUtes.com, back in the winter months, the Utes placed four players on the CSC Academic All-District list. January brought another brainy victory lap; the team celebrated Utah Athletics' third-best all-time semester GPA on record.
Moreover, nine Utah Volleyball athletes earned spots on the 2024 Fall Academic All-Big 12 team. The NCAA also tipped its hat to the team in May for nailing a perfect 1000 single-year Academic Progress Rate score. On the floor, their smashing first season in the Big 12 saw them finish third and sail to their 19th NCAA Tournament while rounding it all off with a No. 23 final ranking in the AVCA poll. Academics, it seems, are as much a part of their game plan as a well-timed serve.
