Central breaks national academic volleyball record

Central College

PELLA— For a record 12th straight year, the Central College volleyball team has received the AVCA Team Academic Award.

Central broke the all-time record for most consecutive years receiving the award. The Dutch outlasted Wis.-La Crosse, who previously shared the mark of 11 straight years. It’s the 13th time overall that Central has captured the academic honor.

To receive AVCA distinction, a team’s combined grade point average for the preceding year must be a 3.30 or higher (4.0 scale).

Central was among 12 Iowa schools to receive the award, including five in the Iowa Conference. Also recognized were Clarke, Coe, Dordt, Drake, Dubuque, Graceland, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Simpson, St. Ambrose and Wartburg.

The Dutch compiled a 3.41 combined team grade point average for 2011-12. Seventeen players on the squad had GPAs of 3.0 or above. Central had six volleyball players earn academic all-Iowa Conference recognition last fall, which requires a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA. Recent graduates Caitlin Kouba (Dubuque, Wahlert HS) and Chelsea Grieger (Pella), a three-time all-league pick, were also selected to the Capital One Academic All-District team.

Coach Kent Clayberg said academic success is a priority in the Dutch program.

“All of us involved with Central volleyball take great pride in the AVCA Team Academic Award,” he said. “It is indicative of the commitment these young women have to pursuing their very best in all endeavors—athletic and academic alike. We believe the pursuit of excellence isn’t situational conditional—either you choose to give your best or you don’t. These young women do.”