LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 20, 2020) - The Lady Bears' volleyball program was honored on Monday as a recipient of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2019-20 season.
 
The award honors teams who have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.
 
Morgan State was announced as one of a record-setting 1,313 teams that earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award, topping last year's record by almost 200 teams. A record 227 NCAA Division I Women's programs were named and 232 schools received Team Academic honors for the first time in 2020.
 
The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale.
 
Morgan State, which is receiving the award for the first time in program history, posted a team GPA of 3.48 for the academic year.

ABOUT THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Service in the Marine Corps is a noble path and demanding journey reserved for those with the willingness to engage and the determination to exceed all mental, moral and physical requirements to become Marines.
 
The Marine Corps engages in national partnerships that provide valuable opportunities to spread public awareness of the Marine Corps' purpose by connecting the brand to those communities it serves. The relationships established between the Corps and our nation's athletic communities ensure our message of aspirational service resonates with coaches, athletes and their influencers.
 
The 2020 United States Marine Corp partnership with AVCA has been developed to engage with key publics that are integral to meeting recruiting objectives. The United States Marine Corps looks forward to building enduring relationships with the AVCA member community and lending our support to those coaches and athletic facilitators who help young Americans win battles every day.
 
ABOUT AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 8,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.