July 23, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - The University of Memphis women's soccer and volleyball teams were each named recipients of the Conference USA Sport Academic Awards for having the highest team GPAs in their respective sports, Thursday.

"I think getting the award is a great honor for our team and for the University of Memphis," said women's soccer head coach Brook Monaghan. "It shows what a special group of girls we have here at Memphis to not only get the job done on the field by winning back-to-back championships but also the success they have in the classroom. Our girls really represent what being a student-athlete is about and I am extremely proud of them."

Women's soccer won the award, as well as the Conference USA regular season and conference tournament championship, with a cumulative team GPA of 3.573, while volleyball won its award for a team GPA of 3.558, the highest of any of the 12 member schools in the conference.

This is the second consecutive year the volleyball program has been recognized has having the highest team GPA in the league, after posting a 3.580 to win the award the previous season.

Both teams will be on campus for fall camp in the next couple of weeks. Women's soccer will open its season on Aug. 15th with an exhibition game against Samford University at 1 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, while volleyball opens its season with a home tournament. The Tigers will face Evansville in their season opener on Aug. 28th at 7 p.m. in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.