NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College volleyball team is among more than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams to earn the Team Academic Award for the 2021-22 season, as announced by the United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Monday. 

Initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, this award honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or a 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.

Coming off a 21-11 overall record in 2021, the Pioneers open the upcoming season on September 2 when they take on Baldwin Wallace University and Heidelberg University in Cedar Point, Ohio. The first home contest is September 9 when Smith hosts Regis College in the opening game of the inaugural Bonnie May Invitational.

About the AVCA
The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches' association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,000 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at avca.org.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.