Since its inception in 1993, the award honors men’s and women’s collegiate and high school volleyball teams that maintain a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

This was only the latest among academic honors for the Wildcats volleyball squad. Nine players made the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team for GPAs of at least 3.50.

On the court, Wildcats finished the season with a 15-2 record, including winning the GLIAC regular season and tournament titles. The team was ranked No. 18 in the final AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 women’s poll of the season.

Head coach Mike Lozier won GLIAC Coach of the Year and freshman Jacqueline Smith was the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Northern Michigan University's Alli Yacko digs a hard shot by Saginaw Valley State in the fifth set of their GLIAC volleyball match played on Sept. 28, 2019, at Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

NMU joined 1,275 teams across the country, including 161 in NCAA Division II, that also earned the AVCA award. The Wildcats’ streak of 14 years is tied for the fifth-longest nationally in Division II.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

Northern Michigan University's Lauren Van Remortel tries to save the ball after an errant pass in the fourth set of a GLIAC volleyball match played against Saginaw Valley State on Sept. 28, 2019, at Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Northern Michigan University's Madeline Crowley, left, and Lauren Caprini react together trying for a dig in the second set of a GLIAC volleyball match played against Saginaw Valley State on Sept. 28, 2019, at Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)