NEW ORLEANS - On the heels of its first championship on the court since the 2000 season, the UALR volleyball team found out it was tops in the classroom among the Sun Belt Conference teams for the 2011-12 school year, announced the SBC offices at its annual volleyball awards banquet.
Last school year, the UALR volleyball team finished with an overall team GPA of 3.59.
"The Academic Award to us as coaches and to our players is important because, in the end, this award shows we are preparing our players for life after college athletics," head coach Van Compton stated. "It was nice because of 11 teams in the conference and we were the best.
"There is a lot to be said about the team to keep up a 3.59 GPA with the rigorous workout and game schedule," Compton added.
Also academically, seniors Emily Pepperman and Sawyer Schaedig with sophomores Edina Begic, Marleen de Zoete, Adisa Hodzic and Allison Wyatt were named to the Commissioner's List. Seniors Daniele Souza Moura and Eva Xie were also recognized for their academic excellence
This season, the Trojans finished 13-14 and 9-5 in Sun Belt Conference action. UALR claimed a share of the Sun Belt Conference West Division crown, its first since the 2000 season.
Begic, who finished second in the nation in kills (5.08) and points (5.74) per set in 2012, claimed a major award for the second-straight season. Begic won Player of the Year honors, the second person to win this honor a season after winning SBC Freshman of the Year.
