The Seton Hill University 2008-09 women’s volleyball team, coached by Rick Hall, earned the Team Academic Achievement Award for the 2008-09 season from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate 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.

Seton Hill University’s team finished the season with an overall grade point average of 3.38.

“Each year I’m impressed all over again by the academic prowess of volleyball players,” said American Volleyball Coaches Association executive director Kathy DeBoer, “Total American Volleyball Coaches Association winners increased this year by 15 percent over last year’s record.”

“Seton Hill is very proud of the academic and athletic accomplishments of our women’s volleyball team. Coach Hall, his staff, and most importantly, the student athletes are to be commended for their efforts on and off of the court,” said Chris Snyder, executive director of athletics.

Members of the 2008-09 Seton Hill University women’s volleyball team include: Sara Acklin, of Robinson Township, Pa., Tara Chizmar, of Salem, Ohio, Andrea Clark, of Imler, Pa., Jessica Cole, of Connellsville, Pa., Danielle DeMaio, of Lowhill, Pa., Michelle Ferrari, of Marlton, N.J., Megan Kehlert, Plum, Pa., Anna Knestaut, New Philadelphia, Ohio, Michelle Morris, Ebensburg, Pa., Christine Murphy, Glenshaw, Pa., Gretchen Meyers, Dayton, Ohio, Rebecca Robinson, Newark, N.J., Lindsey Skorupan, of Cranberry, Pa., Reigh Steban, of Greensburg, Pa., Megan Stroud, Belvidere, Ill. The team is led by Hall and assistant coaches Bob Hall and Sue Hahner.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by IMG Associations. The mission of the American Volleyball Coaches Association is to develop and grow the sport of volleyball. With a membership of over 4,500 and counting, the American Volleyball Coaches Association provided a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and developing the sport. Members are comprised of national and international coaches, collegiate, high school, club, youth, and Olympic coaches, as well as club directors. Other members include former players, officials, media members, and other friends of volleyball. As a group, the American Volleyball Coaches Association is committed to the development, growth, advancement, and publicity of volleyball throughout the world.