Muhlenberg College Athletics

The Muhlenberg volleyball team celebrated its accomplishments on the court many times in 2011, and it can also be proud of its prowess off the court.

For the fifth year in a row, the Mules earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

The annual award honors collegiate volleyball teams that display excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

Muhlenberg made the grade with a young team that featured six freshmen, three sophomores, no juniors and three seniors. Two of the three seniors, as well as one of the sophomores, were named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll.

On the court, the Mules went 5-5 in the CC and missed a playoff berth by one place, a big jump from their 2-8 CC mark and last-place finish of 2010.

Muhlenberg is one of only 17 schools in Division III to have earned the AVCA honor each of the last five seasons.