LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the 15th consecutive season the Bethel University volleyball team earned AVCA Team Academic Honors as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Monday afternoon.

The Royals were one of a record 231 Division III teams to earn the accolade this season. BU has earned the honor 17 times in program history and are tied for the third longest active streak in Division III. 

Initiated in the 1992-93 academic year,  the award 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. 

Bethel finished the 2019 season 17-11 on the year and 6-5 in MIAC play. The Royals made their sixth consecutive MIAC playoff appearance which is tied for the longest active streak in the conference.