The United State Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recognized the Upper Iowa volleyball program for their academic success. The organizations paired to announce that 1,275 teams have earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2020-2021 academic year.
 
Upper Iowa is one of 13 Northern Sun Conference members and 161 NCAA Division II members to earn the Team Academic Award. The honor marks the seventh straight recognition and is the tenth all-time for the Peacocks with nine coming at the NCAA Division II level and one at the Division III level. UIU has earned the honor in 1996, 2005, 2013 and 2015-2021.
 
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.
 
Additionally, Upper Iowa earned a place on the Team Academic Honor Roll. The USMC and AVCA recognize the top 20% of team grade point averages from each division and designate them as Team Academic Honor Roll schools, representing the highest scholarly achievement in the sport. UIU was one of four NSIC schools to earn the additional recognition.

"Even though teams might not have played during their usual season or may not have competed at all during the past year, coaches still found ways to lead their players to academic excellence." said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "This is a testament to the important role volleyball coaches play in their players success both on and off the court."
 
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 organization to those communities it serves. The relationships established between the Marine Corps and our nation's athletic communities ensure our message of aspirational service resonates with coaches, athletes and their influencers. The 2021 United States Marine Corps partnership with AVCA has been developed to build enduring relationships with the AVCA member community and lend 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 7,000 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. The association celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021. Further information is available at www.avca.org.