Dayton Flyers

July 22, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Dayton is one of a record-setting 409 schools that have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2008-2009 season as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Dayton was recognized for the second consecutive year after earning a cumulative GPA of 3.35 , with three student-athletes compiling a perfect 4.0 GPA. The Flyers are one of two Atlantic 10 schools named to the list.

"The University of Dayton is a tremendous academic institution. It is great to see the players on the team work so hard and take advantage of the resources and opportunities that exist here," said head coach Kelly Sheffield. "It is a credit to the hard work that each of them put in, but also the efforts of many professors and tutors, along with (academic advisor) Vera Gomes and everyone else who works tirelessly in our Academic Services department."

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that display 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 or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

"Each year I'm impressed all over again by the academic prowess of volleyball players," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "Total AVCA Team Academic Award winners increased this year by another 55 schools (15%) over last year's record, and, even more impressive, 22% of our four-year college teams had grade point averages of 3.2 or better."

NCAA Division I had 71 schools receiving the award for academic achievements. NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III surpassed their marks from last year with 46 and 77 schools, respectively. Dayton and conference rival Saint Louis were the only teams from the A-10 named to the list.

Over 900 different schools have earned the award in the program's 17-year history, and over 2,800 awards have been given out. Only two institutions, both high schools, have earned the distinction all 17 years: Jonesboro High School (Jonesboro, Arkansas) and Ross S. Sterling High School (Baytown, Texas).

Last season, the Flyers finished with a 21-13 record and an 11-2 conference slate, earning the program's fifth trip to the NCAA Volleyball Championships and its first-ever at-large bid into the Big Dance. Also highlighting the season, middle blocker Lindsay Fletemier was named an AVCA All-American.

Dayton opens up 2009 with its annual alumnae match on Aug. 22 at 5:00 p.m. in the newly renovated Frericks Center. Following the exhibition contest, Dayton will travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to compete in the Mortar Board Premier hosting by Purdue University on Aug. 28 and 29.