LEXINGTON, Ky. – On Monday, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that the Duquesne University volleyball team has earned a USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2019-20 academic year. The Dukes were among the record 227 teams recognized at the Division I level for academic achievement. 

The USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed 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.

Duquesne posted a team grade point average of 3.5 in the fall semester and 3.7 in the spring semester. Overall, Duquesne and Saint Louis lead the conference with 10 AVCA Academic Team Award selections since 1992-93.

The Dukes were the lone Atlantic 10 team to be honored with the academic award and for surpassing its Dig Pink® fundraising goals through the Side-Out Foundation. Dig Pink® is a nationwide movement to provide meaningful and impactful experiences for athletes while inspiring and empowering them to come together in support of the stage IV breast cancer community. Each year, hundreds of teams across the country (and some overseas) participate in the Dig Pink® Rally.