East Tennessee State University’s Volleyball team not only had a successful 2019-2020 season with an overall score of 25-6 and only two losses in the conference bringing that score to 9-2, but they also obtained other achievements from their season, including being awarded a Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
This award was presented to 1,313 teams across the United States who held a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher. The ETSU volleyball team’s grade-point average was 3.574 on a 4.0 scale.
“We talk about all the time, we are student athletes first, so we really focus on making sure academically that we are a sound team,” said Head Coach Benavia Jenkins. “If we’re not doing well off the court, I don’t expect for us to do well on the court.”
The Bucs’ volleyball team has received the Team Academic Award eight times over the past 10 years.
“I think our players were very excited,” said Jenkins. “Especially for our freshmen, when you come in and it’s a new environment, and you are learning quickly about time management and studying.”
Junior Sidney Sherrill, Knoxville, Tennessee, was also awarded the Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal with an outstanding grade-point average of 3.93 for the 2019-2020 school year.
“Our first priority as a student-athlete is to succeed in the classroom, and I am proud of our team for performing the way we did last year,” said Sherrill. “We couldn’t do it without the support of our coaching staff and our academic support staff.”
The Bucs’ volleyball squad was one of five SoCon programs to win the AVCA award this season.
“I am very proud of our players who have been able to maintain the 3.574 GPA,” said Coach Jenkins. “It was a well-deserving award for them because they work exceptionally hard in their classes, study hall and tutoring.”
