LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team once again earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award, announced Monday (July 19) by the United States Military Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is the seventh year in a row the Tigers have received the honor.
The squad combined for a 3.55 GPA during the 2020-21 academic year, the best mark for the team during the current seven-year run of earning the award. Schools must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher for the academic year in order to be named. A total of 161 Division II programs earned the honor, including nine MIAA teams.
The Tigers have posted a GPA above 3.50 during each of head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins' three seasons, including a 3.52 in 2018-19 and 3.54 in 2019-20.
Fifteen Tigers were listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll this season, including Tatum Bartels, Melissa Blockey, Megan Casillas, Morgan Christiansen, Jaden Daffer, Emily Ellis, Mykah Eshbaugh, Elysia Glowacz, Delaney Humm, Morgan McIntire, Isabelle Reynolds, Carly Rodaway, Riley Tinder, Kayla Vitztum and Taylor White.
Three of those players also picked up the MIAA Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA, including Tatum Bartels, Emily Ellis and Riley Tinder. In addition, Ellis received the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for carrying a GPA over 3.50 and being named All-MIAA for her performance on the court.
After competing in an unofficial spring scrimmage season last semester, the Tigers will return to the court for official matches for the first time in two years on September 3 when they head to Pueblo, Colo. to compete in the Steel City Showcase. A full 2021 schedule can be found here.