LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recently recognized Ashford University as one of 450 teams across the nation as recipients of the Team Academic Award for the 2009 season.

The record-breaking number of schools to receive the award released by the AVCA surpasses last year's total of 409 schools. A total of 34 schools on the NAIA level were selected.

Ashford and Clarke College were the two schools who were honored within the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

"As a program, we are very proud of this accomplishment," AU Head Coach Micah Cewe said. "This demonstrates commitment and dedication off the court and our student-athletes have lived up to both roles."

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed 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 or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

There were 119 first-time recipients of the AVCA Team Academic Award in 2009-10. NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II each saw 15 new teams achieve the honor, while NCAA Division III welcomed 17 newcomers.

Thirteen NAIA teams, two NCCAA teams and two Two-Year Colleges garnered recognition for the first time, while 55 high school teams (51 girls' teams and four boys' teams) received their first AVCA Team Academic nod.

The AVCA award caps a stellar academic year for the Saints' spikers, culminating with five Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections and eight Academic All-MCC nods.