The Linfield University volleyball program has earned the United State Marine Corps/American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for its effort in the classroom during the 2020-21 academic year.
 
The USMC/AVCA honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 or better on a 4.0 scale with the Team Academic Award. The Wildcats posted a grade point average of 3.56 as a team this year.
 
"I am very proud of each volleyball student-athlete who was on the team," said coach Haley Domeck. "They demonstrated discipline in the classroom throughout this year. It was not easy to stay focused during COVID, especially with classes being moved to the online and hybrid format. But our student-athletes persevered, and it shows in their overall GPAs,"
 
Additionally, Yssa Alcones, Tessa Doerfler, McKenzie Brock, Maddie Broyhill, Mia Naccarato, Maya Nakasone, Seraiah Ochse, Anika Shuckhart and Zoie Warner were named Northwest Conference Scholar-Athletes earlier this month.
 
Added Domeck: "We talk a lot about how being successful in the classroom is very important and our team has embraced that."
 
Around the country, 233 NCAA Division III women's volleyball programs earned the award which is an all-time high.