FULL AVCA RELEASE
FULL USMC/AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC HONORS LIST

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Despite being sidelined due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, the New Haven volleyball team showed its resiliency in the classroom earning a Team Academic Award as presented by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) in partnership with the United States Marine Corps (USMC). In addition, the Chargers were tabbed as a Team Academic Honor Roll recipient, which represents the top-20% of team GPA's from each division.

This year marks the fourth straight year and the seventh time over the last eight years that the University of New Haven has been honored with a USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award. Overall, New Haven is one of 161 Division II programs who are among 1,275 programs nationally recognized with USMC/AVCA Team Academic Honors in the 29th year of the program. To be eligible, teams must maintain a year-long grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale.

With its 2020-21 cumulative grade point average of 3.70, the Chargers are one of eight teams from the Northeast-10 Conference to earn the honor. Individually, all 16 Chargers were named to the Northeast-10 Conference Honor Roll, including all who received New Haven Dean's List accolades in at least one of the two semesters last year. Highlighting the list are four players who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average in one of the two semesters; Jessica Akiona (Kapolei, Hawaii/La Pietra- Hawaii School for Girls) (Fall 2020) Camille Garden (Atlanta, Ga./Landmark Christian) (Spring 2021), Angela Chan (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) (Fall 2020) and Emily Smith (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) (Fall 2020).

New Haven will open its second season under the direction of head coach Christa Cooper with the first of three early season invitational tournaments, the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament hosted by Clarion University September 3-4.