By: Ryan Hartwig (@RyanHartwig)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced that the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay volleyball program is among the teams to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 school year. The Phoenix posted an impressive 3.57 team grade-point average to earn its eighth AVCA honor since 2001 (01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 08, 10, 11).

"I am very proud of the student-athletes we have in our program," Phoenix head coach Debbie Kirch said. "The commitment they make on and off the court is indicative of how we want our program represented - the Green Bay Volleyball way. Our players truly care about their academics and they have earned this award."

The award, which was started in 1992-93, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that display excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. A total of 102 Division I women's teams received the award in 2011-12, and a record-setting 533 teams were honored nationwide.

Phoenix volleyball had nine players named to the Horizon League's Spring 2012 Academic Honor Roll to help Green Bay Athletics to one of its most successful semesters in school history. Green Bay recorded its 25th consecutive semester with at least a 3.0 GPA in the spring, posting an all-time best 3.27. The volleyball team led the entire department in the fall of 2011, combining for a staggering GPA of 3.71.

Kirch recently announced her team's challenging 2012 schedule, which begins with the Green Bay/Country Inn & Suites Tournament on Aug. 24-25.

The Phoenix returns 10 players from a 2011 squad that went 11-18 overall and 7-9 in conference play. Among those returning is senior libero Brittany Groth (Oak Creek, Wis.), an All-Horizon League performer who averaged a school-record 5.78 digs per set as a junior - a figure that ranked ninth in the NCAA. Also back for her senior campaign is Carmen Leitermann (Schofield, Wis.), who finished second on the team and eighth in the conference with 302 kills.

Green Bay will gear up for the 2012 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 18 with an intrasquad scrimmage that will be open to the public. Stay tuned to GreenBayPhoenix.com for details.

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