College Volleyball
Rider Honored with National Award for Academics

LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider University volleyball team was recently honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with a Team Academic Award for its performance in the classroom for the 2015-16 academic year.

The Broncs finished with a 3.49 team grade point average and were one of 131 programs honored out of the 329 Division I NCAA women's squads in the nation.

Head coach Christopher Feliciano attributes the continued success in the classroom to the team culture and the extensive support staff and resources committed to academic success at Rider University.

“This award is a measure of the standard and culture in our gym,” said Feliciano who begins his sixth season at Rider.  “We understand that in order to be successful both on the court and in the classroom, hard work and dedication are needed.  This is a direct reflection of the efforts and commitment of Sonya Hurt, Rider's Academic Coordinator and Dr. Kelly Bidle, Rider's Faculty Athletics Representative.  They and many others have ensured that our student-athletes are equipped with all of the tools necessary to be successful.  Kudos also go to the student-athletes for embracing these opportunities.”

This marks the fifth time that the volleyball team has been honored by the AVCA for academics, including three of the last four years.

The volleyball team had a 3.50 grade point average during the 2014-15 and the 2012-13 academic years.

The volleyball team had a 3.30 grade point average during the 2009-10 academic year.

The team compiled a 3.62 team grade point average in the spring of 2006, the highest semester grade point average ever recorded by a varsity team at Rider, and a 3.42 grade point average for the 2005-06 academic school year.

For the past 35 semesters, the volleyball squad has achieved a team grade point average over a 3.00 and since the Fall of 1993, the volleyball team has won the semester grade point average title five times.

The Broncs were equally strong on the court as Rider qualified for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season, opening conference play 7-0 in 2015.

Rider opens the 2016 season at the Hampton Inn-vitational hosted by Bryant University August 26-27.

The home opener is August 31 against St. Francis Brooklyn at 7:00pm in Alumni Gymnasium on the Lawrenceville, New Jersey campus.

-RU-