Volleyball team recognized for academic excellence

The American Volleyball Coaches Association has announced that the Pitt-Bradford women's volleyball team has earned an AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2015-2016 season.

Pitt-Bradford was one of 140 NCAA Division III women's volleyball teams to earn the award, which honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that earn 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.

It is no accident that a volleyball coaches association recognizes academic excellence as a team, rather than an individual, achievement. Players influence each other, both in execution on the court and discipline in the classroom,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer.

“The award honors teams that have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom. Meeting the award standards is an accomplishment of which Pitt-Bradford can be proud.”

Pitt-Bradford head volleyball coach Tom Roof noted that this is the second straight year the team has been recognized nationally for team academics.

“I couldn't be more proud of this team,” Roof said. “We strive to bring in great student athletes at Pitt-Bradford, and this award is a testimonial to the players we have here and to the goals of the university. I truly believe that recruiting academically strong student athletes has a carryover effect. If you're good in the classroom, you're going to be a great teammate, and you're going to be a good player.”

Players on the 2015 roster were Janessa Cepresh of Allport; Alexis Dhayer of Georgetown; Erin Fagan of Waverly, N.Y.; Mandy Finch of Randolph, N.Y.; Megan Geary of Douglassville; Courtney Holzwarth of Bradford; Kaitlin McCann of Bradford; Chelsea Onyechi of Sugar Land, Texas; Kirsten Platz of Erie; Christina Rauh of Panama, N.Y.; Emily Reitz of Punxsutawney; Sierra Rose of Cuba, N.Y.; and Alma Turpin of Sterling, Va.