CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College volleyball team was among 46 NCAA Division II volleyball programs to receive the Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, the organization announced. This is the first year the Cougars earned the honor, which recognizes teams for their academic achievement.

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. Last fall four Cougars were named to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference All-Academic Team for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. They are Ashley Cusack (Long Branch, NJ/St. Rose), rising seniors Ashley Collins (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) and Jennifer Sullivan (Livingston, NJ/Livingston), and rising junior Kathleen Estes (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst).

The Cougars, coached by Megan Hrbek, won the CACC North Division last year and advanced to the semifinals of the CACC Tournament. The 2009 season begins on Sept. 4 at the University of Bridgeport Tournament in Bridgeport, Conn.