WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University women's volleyball team is one of a record 120 Division II programs from across the country that earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 season. It's the third straight year that the Falcons have been recognized.

Over 770 teams, from all levels of volleyball, received the award this year. It honors collegiate and high school teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the academic year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average.

"Congratulations to the coaches and institutions that won the 2016 AVCA Team Academic Award," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "It is no accident that a volleyball coaches association recognizes academic excellence as a team, rather than an individual, achievement. Players influence each other, both in execution on the court and discipline in the classroom."

Coach Joey Pacis' team achieved nearly a 3.5 GPA during the 2015-16 academic year and had the first CoSIDA Academic All-America in program history, May graduate Jaci Buscher. Of the 14 players on the roster, 13 own overall GPA's of 3.0 or better.

Bentley opens the 2016 season Sept. 2-3 with a tournament at Nova Southeastern University.