OFFICIAL NCAA RELEASE
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State volleyball program has been publicly recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for a perfect multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR). The NCAA’s latest study covers the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
The Eagles, who rank in the top 10 percent of all Division I sports teams during the four-year cohort, were the only Ohio Valley Conference volleyball program to post a score of 1,000.
“Our volleyball roster is filled with high-quality student-athletes,” MSU Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services & Senior Woman Administrator Sara Larson said. “These young women have achieved at a very high level in recent years, both in the classroom and on the court. I’m happy to see them earn some much-deserved national recognition for their academic accomplishments.”
Morehead State has won the American Volleyball Coaches Association and OVC Academic Awards each of the past four years, while posting a 91-39 overall record (.700) and 57-16 OVC mark (.781).
“This recognition is a testament to the commitment our young ladies make to their academics,” MSU Head Volleyball Coach Jaime Gordon said. “We take a lot of pride in recruiting and coaching well-rounded student-athletes. It’s certainly our goal to win conference championships every year, but we will continue to have high standards in the areas of academics, community service and character.”
The NCAA publicly recognizes select Division I sports teams each year by announcing their latest multi-year APR. The release is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and student-athlete retention.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR takes into account eligibility, retention and graduation, and provides a full assessment of each team's academic performance.
Morehead State is coming off arguably its best season in school history. The 2011 Eagles finished 26-8 overall, 19-1 in league play, claimed the third OVC Tournament title in the program’s 40 seasons and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.
MSU opens its 2012 season on Aug. 24 against Big Ten powerhouse Penn State in Louisville, Ky. The Nittany Lions won four consecutive NCAA national championships from 2007-10.
The Eagles will be announcing their full schedule soon. Check MSUEagles.com for more information.
