Aug. 1, 2008

Complete list of honored teams in PDF format

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Lyndsey Benson's Northern Colorado volleyball team was announced earlier this week as one of only 70 NCAA Division I teams across the nation to earn a American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2007-2008 season.

In all, 353 teams were honored with the award, which began with the 1992-1993 academic year and recognizes collegiate and high school volleyball teams that maintain a minimum of a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The Bears, which also had 10 players named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team in 2007, were the only Big Sky team honored among the 70 D-I squads.

"We're really proud of this accomplishment," Benson said. "Our program stresses academic success as well as on-the-court success, and this honor highlights that commitment."

The Northern Colorado volleyball program will officially begin its 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 9, when players report to Greeley for preseason camp. The Bears will begin competition against Villanova in the LaSalle Tournament on Friday, Aug. 29.