Volleyball receives USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Michigan Tech volleyball team received the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for 2021-22, earning the honor for the 10th straight season. Tech held a 3.63 team GPA and was one of eight GLIAC teams honored.
Six Huskies were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team while three others were on the GLIAC All-Academic Team. Laura De Marchi was named a First Team Academic All-American with a 3.73 grade-point average in biomedical engineering, and electrical engineering, with a minor in German. Lindy Oujiri received the team's academic award with her 4.0 in biomedical engineering. Riley Stichter, Megan Utlak, Morgan Radtke, Janie Grindland, and Olivia Ghormley also had a 4.0 semester over the past academic year.
Along with their success in the classroom, the Huskies found success on the court, finishing the 2021 season with a 25-7 overall record and ranked No. 22 in the final AVCA Top 25 poll. Tech won the GLIAC Regular Season Championship for the second straight season and for the third time in program history. The Huskies went to their fourth straight NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Midwest Regional Semifinal for the fifth time in school history.
Laura De Marchi and Anna Jonynas were named AVCA All-Americans while De Marchi was named the AVCA Midwest Player of the Year. Five Huskies received All-GLIAC Honors with Anna Jonynas being named the GLIAC Player of the Year, the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, and on the All-GLIAC First Team. Laura De Marchi was the GLIAC Setter of the Year and on the All-GLIAC First Team. Olivia Ghormley (First Team) Carissa Beyer (Second Team), and Jillian Kuizenga (Honorable Mention) rounded out GLIAC awards.
More than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.
"Academic achievement does not happen by accident," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "I'm so proud of the hundreds of coaching staffs that make excellence in the classroom a priority."
About the United States Marine Corps
Our long-standing partner, the United States Marine Corps, extends its support to our nation's coaches and educators. Just as you make every effort to help your student-athletes succeed, the Marine Corps strives to help every Marine reach his or her potential. Whether engaging a local Marine to work with your athletes or recognizing high-achieving students, with your support as an influencer we will work together to ensure the success of our youth and the future of our nation. For more information about the Marine Influencer Program, or to invite a Marine to spend time with your team, please email community@marines.usmc.mil or visit https://RMI.Marines.com/Influencer.
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.