ATLANTA- Excelling on the court and in the classrooms, both the beach and court volleyball teams received the 2016-2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award, making GSU one of only 13 schools to earn the honor for both sports. 

“I am so proud of this program and the commitment to academics that these student-athletes have displayed for the last four years”, beach volleyball head coach Beth Van Fleet said. “We are grateful for the resources that our administration provides to ensure our athletic and academic success. Our standard continues to rise and I'm looking forward to seeing what we accomplish in the classroom again this year.”

The award, launched 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.

Georgia State's beach volleyball team saw three student-athletes named to the Georgia State President's List (4.0 GPA or higher) after the spring semester. Eight more Panthers made it on the Dean's List which is reserved for student-athletes with a GPA of at least 3.50. The court volleyball team saw eight members record at least a 3.50 GPA, and totaled an outstanding team grade point average of 3.76 this spring.

 “One of our missions as a team is to excel academically. We are very proud of our team's preparation, communication and discipline in their academic achievements” said court volleyball head coach Sally Polhamus.

 Polhamus went on to recognize the efforts of the entire Georgia State staff. “We want to thank Jessica Summey and all the academic resources Georgia State provides.”

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