20 Jul 2022 Harding teams receive academic awards

SEARCY — The Harding volleyball team earned the United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award Monday for its work in the classroom. 

It is the sixteenth time the Lady Bisons have earned the award and the eighth straight year. More than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams have earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. 

Initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, the award honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale. The team award is given out to high schools and universities that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3. Harding had a 3.69 GPA.

Harding women’s track and field had nine team members earn United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors. Harding’s team received the All-Academic Team citation for posting a 3.41 team GPA.

To earn the individual award, student-athletes must have a 3.25 GPA or higher and achieved a provisional qualifying mark for either the indoor or outdoor season.

Harding men’s track and field had six team members earn United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors. Harding’s team received the All-Academic Team citation for posting a 3.20 team GPA.

Harding women’s tennis had seven team members named ITA Scholar-Athlete, as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its postseason academic honors. Harding also received the All-Academic Team citation.

The ITA requires a 3.50 GPA or higher to be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete and requires a team to have a 3.20 GPA or higher to be named an ITA All-Academic Team.

Harding’s honorees included Romane Britt (3.71 GPA), Allison Carpenter (4.00), Emily Carpenter (4.00), Lindy Carpenter (4.00), Allison Jenkins (4.00), Rachel McCrae (4.00) and Jingjing Yang (3.52). Jenkins and each of the Carpenters won the award for the fourth time. It was McCrae’s third honor and the first for Yang.

Harding posted a 3.54 GPA as a team. The Lady Bisons received the All-Academic Team honor for the sixth consecutive year.

To earn the individual award, student-athletes must have a 3.25 GPA or higher and achieved a provisional qualifying mark for either the indoor or outdoor season.

Harding’s honorees include Nikolasz Csokas, Alex Hindman, Matt Hipshire, Antiwain Jones, Tad Kirby and Austin Parrish.

Harding men’s tennis had six team members named ITA Scholar-Athlete Tuesday, as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its postseason academic honors. Harding also received the All-Academic Team citation.

The ITA requires a 3.50 GPA or higher to be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete and requires a team to have a 3.20 GPA or higher to be named an ITA All-Academic Team.

Harding’s honorees included Balazs Balassa (3.56 GPA), Arthur Bellan (3.57), Alvaro de Lorenzo (3.83), Lukas Rambo (4.00), Bryce Walker (3.79) and Jacob Wood (4.00). Balassa, de Lorenzo and Walker each earned their third ITA Scholar-Athlete award. It was the second for Bellan and Walker and the first for Wood.

Harding posted a 3.22 GPA. The Bisons receive the All-Academic Team honor for the fourth consecutive year.