Blue Devils earn USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award

The Fredonia State women's volleyball team had a 3.60 cumulative grade-point average during the 2019-20 academic year and earned a Team Academic Award presented by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps.

The Blue Devils, coached by Geoff Braun, had one player earn a perfect 4.0 GPA and four other players with a 3.80 GPA or higher. It marks the fifth straight year, and seventh overall, the Blue Devils have received team academic honors.

"In this uncertain time, leadership matters," AVCA Executive Director Kathleen J. DeBoer and Membership and Awards Specialist Alice Rogers co-wrote. "While we lost the ability to be together this spring and to play our sport, Geoff was a critical anchor for players transitioning to and sometimes struggling with remote learning. Geoff did not win this award, (the) team did. But the encouragement to stay focused on academics means this accomplishment was not happenstance. ... Even without a sport to bond them, (the players) succeeded as a group of students."

During the nominating process, Coach Braun was asked to describe his philosophy regarding his team's academic pursuits. "The primary goal of our student-athletes," he stated, "is to obtain their undergraduate degree. There is not pressure from our coaching staff to achieve a certain GPA. Our academic advisement meetings are more goal-oriented. We discuss what (the players') 'dream job' is and where they see themselves after graduation. I believe that this creates a professional attitude towards their academics. We also stress the importance of helping each other...our upperclassmen are mentors to our underclassmen. Teammates are a valuable resource."