RINDGE, N.H. (July 27, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team has been named as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 academic year, as announced earlier this week by the AVCA. It is the seventh straight year Franklin Pierce has earned the honor from the AVCA.

To be eligible for selection, a team must maintain a 3.30 grade-point average. In all, a record 764 teams earned the accolade throughout the collegiate and high school ranks. Franklin Pierce was one of 119 NCAA Division II women's programs to earn the distinction. The Ravens are also one of seven Northeast-10 Conference volleyball programs to collect the honor, as they are joined by Adelphi, Bentley, Le Moyne, New Haven, Pace and Saint Rose.

The AVCA touts its Team Academic Award as one of the organization's fastest-growing awards programs. The program, which began in 1992-93, saw an increase in numbers for the 11th straight year and the number of recipients has nearly tripled since 2004-05.

The Ravens finished the 2015 campaign at 18-11 (12-2 Northeast-10), earned their third NCAA Championship East Regional berth in four years and made an appearance in the Northeast-10 Championship for the fourth straight season.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce volleyball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).