Lady Cougars earn USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The University of Saint Francis 2019-20 volleyball team earned the prestigious USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award from the United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The award honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade point average of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

“Coaches have the most influence during difficult times,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “Keeping student-athletes focused on their academic success when their volleyball identity is suddenly gone is leadership worth celebrating!”

USF players that recorded a 3.5 or higher GPA for the 2019-20 school year include Kyndel Buchanan, Madison Candler, Cydney Christensen, Anne Clark, Megan Diagostino, Makayla Hissong, Dharma Jolas, Ava Kunkler, Maria Pelak, Eliana Serdynski, Kendra Siefring, Maile Steckelberg and Kylie Topp.

“Coach Scott Haddix’s tireless work ethic and dedication to his players exemplify the Franciscan values we share here at USF,” said USF Athletic Director Mike McCaffrey. “This is a well-deserved award for the Lady Cougar program.”

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences; College of Arts, Sciences, and Business; and College of Adult and Distance Education. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.