MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team has been awarded an American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for its hard work in the classroom during the 2007-08 academic year.

Eight of the team’s 11 members finished the year with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Highlighting the team’s academic success is senior MacKenzie Wilis, who has never known anything but a perfect 4.0 GPA. Willis was a two-time academic award winner in junior college, which was immediately followed this past year by a selection to the Gulf South Conference Fall All-Academic Team.

This award honors teams who have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.

“This is a great honor to receive,” said head coach Nicole Smith. “Their athletic ability may be the tool they use to get into college, but may not be the tool they use for their careers. What they do in the classroom is very important for their lives. I couldn’t be any more pleased with their devotion both on the court and in the classroom.”

During the 2007-08 academic year, the Cotton Blossoms combined to increase the team’s cumulative grade point average to 3.10.

Other members of the team sporting impressive GPAs include senior Taura Rush (3.90), sophomore Stephanie Hatten (3.90), sophomore Vikki Crisco (3.58), sophomore Keri Gilbert (3.55), senior Maegan Martin (3.30) and junior Nicole Ferguson (3.30).

Each member of the team received a certificate, along with a plaque for the University commemorating this recognition.