WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University women's volleyball  team was recently recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with an AVCA Team Academic Award for its success in the classroom during the 2013-14 academic year.

Bentley was one of 362 NCAA women's teams who received the honor, including an all-time high 95 from Division II.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, recognizes college and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

"Too often athletic participation is associated with academic underachievement and this stereotype is simply false when it comes to volleyball," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "Couple the smarts represented by these teams with the competitive experience and team-focused training gained on the court and we have a potent formula for future leadership! What a significant contribution that is by their coaches and schools."

Bentley returns 13 players this year from last year's 17-10 squad and will open the 2014 season with the Oredigger Volleyball Classic Sept. 5-6. That will be a homecoming for junior outside hitter Jaci Buscher (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS), who was named to the 2013 Academic All-Northeast-10 Conference team.  Her hometown is only about ten miles from the Colorado School of Mines campus, where the tournament will be played.