The Blackburn College Volleyball Team earned the prestigious United State Marine Corps and American Volleyball Coaches Association Award for the past school year.  The award recognizes college and high school volleyball programs that maintain a 3.30 Grade Point Average for the school year.  "I am extremely proud of all the hard work and dedication this team exhibited all year long," said Blackburn Coach Morgan Hauser.  "In the fall we set a team goal of 3.0 grade point average or higher for the first semester.  When we surpassed that, we re-set our goal to a 3.3 GPA," added Hauser.

With the school year interrupted by COVID-19 the team certainly had to deal with a new challenge.  "Even with the transition to online learning in the spring, these young women made no excuses and leaned on one another for support.  Not only did this team earn the AVCA Team Academic Award for the first time in program history, but they did it when the odds weren't necessarily in their favor," added Hauser.

Hauser will add seven new players to the squad this upcoming year and a team manager.  She hopes the newcomers will continue the performance of the returning players.  "Their grit and tenacity in the classroom is just as strong as it is on the court.  This team has set a strong example and established expectations for our future teams," concluded Hauser.