Blue Jays Volleyball Scores Two AVCA Awards for Exemplary Academic Performance

The Blue Jays women's volleyball team poses in light blue uniforms in front of a volleyball net in the Historic Gymnasium, flanked by their coaches on the left and right.

The Westminster College Blue Jays volleyball team recently scored the prestigious American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award and was named to the Team Academic Honor Roll.

A press release issued July 17, 2024, by the AVCA, stated that to achieve the Team Academic Award, teams must collectively achieve a year-long grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

Blue Jays volleyball achieved an impressive 3.85 team GPA.

Similarly, the Team Academic Honor Roll celebrates programs in the top 20% of GPAs for their division. Other Division III colleges and universities on the list include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and The University of Chicago.

AVCA CEO Jamie Gordon emphasized that the Team Academic Award is a reflection of coaching excellence.

“This is a great example of how committed our coaches are when it comes to helping their players reach their full potential as both students and athletes,” Gordon said.

Under the leadership of Dalton Tucker, Westminster’s head volleyball coach, the Blue Jays have received this recognition for two years in a row. Heading into his fourth season, Tucker has led the women’s volleyball team to three straight conference tournament appearances, including two conference championship appearances.

“This team has really worked hard and focused on the goal of this particular honor: being in the top 20% of DIII programs and achieving the Team Academic Honor Roll,” Tucker reflected. “I couldn’t be prouder of our women and their continuous effort in the classroom, which is truly building our standard here at Westminster.”

As announced last fall, Tucker will additionally head up Westminster’s new men’s volleyball program. Watch for more Blue Jays volleyball news throughout the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year!

Sarah Rummel Backer

Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.