By David Rogers. LEXINGTON, Ky. — Both on the court and in the classroom, Appalachian State University’s volleyball team excelled in the 2022-23 academic year. With a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.59, the team earned the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association “Team Academic Award,” the organizations announced on July 13.
The App State award reflects a nationwide trend in emphasizing the “student” in student athlete as a record-setting 1,332 collegiate and high school volleyball teams garnered recognition for their efforts in the classroom since the award was initiated during the 1992-93 academic year. To be eligible, teams must maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.
On the court in 2022-23, App State also excelled, going 18-10 (11-5 in the Sun Belt Conference) last year during head coach Sarah Rumely Noble’s first season at the helm. The team’s season-long performance included six sweeps being victorious in seven five-set thrillers. From Oct. 6 to Nov. 12, The Mountaineers won 11 of 12 matches, the best stretch of play for App State since a program-tying 16 straight wins during the 2015 campaign, according to the team’s strategic communications staff.
The 2023 season will start with the Mountaineer Classic on Aug. 25 and 26. App State will host a second tournament, the Black & Gold Invitational, on Sept. 7-9. The Mountaineers will also host eight conference matches in the Holmes Convocation Center this fall. Season tickets are on sale now.
