INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) recognized 144 men’s and women’s teams Monday as recipients of the 2016-17 Team Academic All-GLVC Award. The GLVC recognizes each team from member institutions that have maintained a 3.30 grade point average for the academic year. The total of 144 honorees surpasses the previous Conference record of 137 set last year.
The Drury University women’s tennis program registered the Conference’s highest team GPA during the 2016-17 academic year with a 3.78. Tying for second was Bellarmine University women’s tennis and McKendree University volleyball both with a 3.77 GPA, followed by Drury women’s soccer in third at 3.75. The Panthers’ men’s tennis team finished in fourth at 3.74.
Continuing the record-breaking trend, the GLVC boasted a new league high with eight schools finishing with 10 or more teams at or above a 3.30, having set previous conference marks in 2016 (seven) and 2015 (five). Drury paced the league with 14 teams that met the standard, topping the previous conference best of 13 set by Lewis University last year. Lewis University and Maryville University followed with 13 teams each, while the University of Indianapolis, McKendree University and Rockhurst all had 11 teams. Additionally, Bellarmine and Saint Joseph’s College were the only other schools to boast double-digit numbers with 10 teams earning the laurel from each school.
Eight GLVC schools increased their totals from a year ago, while two others posted the same number. Drury and Saint Joseph's led the league in largest academic growth by a GLVC school. The Panthers made a jump from 10 to 14, while the Pumas soared from seven to 10 teams over the last year.
There were a total of 108 women’s teams and 36 men’s squads tabbed for the honor, which marks an increase of three and four, respectively, from a year ago.
Women’s soccer took over as the sport with the most honors, as 15 of the 16 member institutions saw their respective squads above a 3.30. While volleyball followed in second with 14 school winners, it was also a near sweep for women’s tennis. The sport fields 14 programs and had 13 member institutions recognized. Four sports – women’s cross country, softball, women’s golf and women’s basketball – all had 12 honorees, while women’s track (10) was the only other sport with 10 or more program winners. Swimming and diving (8) was the only other women’s sport not mentioned above.
Two men’s sports led with eight programs recognized in golf and tennis with soccer close behind, earning seven selections. Men’s cross country trailed with four teams apiece, while baseball and track & field picked up three each. Men’s swimming came away with two school winners above the mark and Maryville wrestling was the only school to earn the accolade in the sport’s first year of league sponsorship.
Women’s tennis was the sport most commonly found atop each school’s list with six. The remaining 10 schools were led by volleyball (4), women’s cross country (2), women’s basketball (1), women’s golf (1), softball (1) and women’s swimming and diving (1).
The complete list of Team Academic All-GLVC Award honorees follows by institution in alphabetical order.
- Bellarmine (10) – Women’s Tennis (3.77), Women’s Soccer (3.70), Women’s Cross Country (3.68), Men’s Golf (3.63), Softball (3.54), Women’s Track & Field (3.52), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.43), Women’s Golf (3.38), Women’s Basketball (3.32), Volleyball (3.30).
- Drury (14) – Women’s Tennis (3.78), Women’s Soccer (3.75), Men’s Tennis (3.74), Men’s Cross Country (3.71), Volleyball (3.67), Women’s Cross Country (3.67), Women’s Track & Field (3.65), Women’s Golf (3.63), Men’s Track & Field (3.60), Softball (3.60), Women’s Basketball (3.49), Baseball (3.47), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.43), Men’s Soccer (3.34).
- Illinois Springfield (7) – Women’s Tennis (3.70), Softball (3.66), Volleyball (3.52), Women’s Soccer (3.51), Men’s Tennis (3.49), Women’s Golf (3.44), Men’s Cross Country (3.31).
- Indianapolis (11) – Women’s Cross County (3.68), Women’s Golf (3.67), Men’s Golf (3.58), Men’s Swimming & Diving (3.56), Men’s Tennis (3.52), Volleyball (3.50), Women’s Tennis (3.49), Softball (3.40), Women’s Swimming & Diving, (3.40), Women’s Track & Field (3.36), Women’s Soccer (3.31).
- Lewis (13) – Women’s Cross Country (3.70), Women’s Tennis (3.70), Women’s Golf (3.66), Softball (3.63), Women’s Basketball (3.45), Men’s Tennis (3.49), Men’s Swimming & Diving (3.43), Volleyball (3.42), Women’s Track & Field (3.41), Men’s Golf (3.39), Women’s Soccer (3.38), Men’s Soccer (3.32), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.32).
- Maryville (13) – Women’s Golf (3.71), Women’s Basketball (3.71), Women’s Soccer (3.63), Women’s Tennis (3.59), Men’s Cross Country (3.54), Women’s Track & Field (3.53), Softball (3.51), Women’s Cross Country (3.49), Men’s Golf (3.44), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.36), Men’s Track & Field (3.36), Volleyball (3.35), Wrestling (3.31).
- McKendree (11) – Volleyball (3.77), Women’s Basketball (3.65), Women’s Golf (3.63), Women’s Tennis (3.58), Women’s Soccer (3.57), Softball (3.57), Women’s Track & Field (3.51), Men’s Tennis (3.50), Women’s Cross Country (3.40), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.40), Men’s Golf (3.39).
- Missouri S&T (5) – Volleyball (3.52), Softball (3.48), Women’s Cross Country (3.40), Women’s Soccer (3.39), Men’s Soccer (3.33).
- Missouri-St. Louis (5) – Women’s Tennis (3.65), Women’s Golf (3.59), Volleyball (3.51), Men’s Golf (3.45), Women’s Basketball (3.33).
- Quincy (9) – Women's Tennis (3.66), Women's Soccer (3.55), Women's Golf (3.41), Softball (3.41), Women's Basketball (3.40), Men's Soccer (3.39), Women's Cross Country (3.34), Volleyball (3.33), Men's Tennis (3.30).
- Rockhurst (11) – Women’s Tennis (3.73), Women’s Cross Country (3.71), Women’s Soccer (3.69), Softball (3.64), Men’s Tennis (3.62), Women’s Basketball (3.60), Volleyball (3.56), Women’s Golf (3.55), Men’s Golf (3.53), Men’s Soccer (3.35), Baseball (3.31).
- Saint Joseph’s (10) – Volleyball (3.51), Baseball (3.49), Women’s Cross Country (3.47), Women’s Golf (3.46), Women’s Track & Field (3.46), Women’s Soccer (3.45), Women’s Tennis (3.43), Softball (3.35), Men’s Tennis (3.35), Women’s Basketball (3.34).
- Southern Indiana (7) – Women’s Basketball (3.64), Women’s Tennis (3.64), Women’s Cross Country (3.50), Women’s Golf (3.46), Men’s Soccer (3.45), Women’s Soccer (3.45), Women’s Track & Field (3.42).
- Truman State (7) – Softball (3.47), Women’s Cross Country (3.47), Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.47), Women’s Track & Field (3.44), Women’s Soccer (3.40), Men’s Soccer (3.33), Men’s Cross Country (3.30).
- UW-Parkside (3) – Volleyball (3.37), Women’s Soccer (3.33), Women’s Basketball (3.31).
- William Jewell (8) – Women’s Swimming & Diving (3.52), Men’s Golf (3.48), Volleyball (3.42), Women’s Basketball (3.41), Women’s Soccer (3.39), Women’s Track & Field (3.34), Men’s Track & Field (3.33), Women’s Tennis (3.31).