July 22, 2009-For the fourth time in head coach Bing Xu's five years, the Emporia  State University volleyball team earned a 2008-09 Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is the sixth time in the last seven years, ESU has been honored.

The award, which was initiated 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 on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

During the 2008-09 academic year, ESU maintained a 3.45 cumulative GPA. Eleven Hornets held a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher.  

The Hornets are one of 46 NCAA Division II teams to be honored for their academic achievement by the AVCA this year. ESU was one of five MIAA teams to make the grade and advanced further than the other four league teams in the NCAA Tournament.

ESU returns four of six starters and their libero from last year's 34-4 MIAA Championship team.  Junior Ting Liu was a first-team AVCA All-American and the MIAA's Most Valuable Player while senior Arica Shepard earned thrid-team AVCA All-American honors.  

The Hornets open the season on Aug. 28 at the UNO Volleyball Showcase in Omaha, Neb. and will play their first home match on Sept. 18 against Missouri Western. Season tickets are on sale now at the ESU Athletic Ticket office located in the ESU Memorial Union.

2008-09 AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARDS

NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN

Abilene Christian University

Adelphi University

Augustana College (SD)

Cal State Univ-Dominguez Hills

Caldwell College

Colorado Christian University

Concordia University - St. Paul

Drury University

East Stroudsburg University

Eastern New Mexico University

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Florida Southern College

Gannon University

Harding University

Holy Family University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Lander University

Lincoln Memorial University

Lynn University

Millersville University

Missouri Southern State University

Mount Olive College

New Mexico Highlands University

Northern Michigan University

Northern State University

Pittsburg State University

Rockhurst University

Seton Hill University

Slippery Rock University

Southern Arkansas University

Southwest Minnesota State University

St Edward's University

St Joseph's College (IN)

Texas Woman's University

The University of Findlay

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Central Missouri

University of Montevallo

University of Nebraska-Omaha

University of New Haven

University of South Carolina-Aiken

University of Tampa

Wayne State College (Neb.)

Western Oregon University

Wingate University

Winona State University

MIAA Teams in bold

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