Three KSU teams recognized for excellence in classroom

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 30, 2020

Following a record-setting year in which more than 203 Owl athletes were named to the ASUN Academic Honor Roll, three Kennesaw State University teams were also recipients of the NCAA Public Recognition Honors for their Academic Progress Rates (APR).

Kennesaw State’s women's volleyball, tennis and lacrosse teams all finished among the top 10 percent of their respective sports with perfect multiyear scores of 1,000. The volleyball and women's tennis teams were honored for the fifth straight year while lacrosse was awarded for the third straight year. Adopted by the NCAA in 2003, APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport.. The current rates were based on scores from the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years.

“Our student-athletes achieved unprecedented academic success thanks to their determination to maintain a standard of excellence and our wonderful faculty who made the sacrifices to deliver quality online classes in a short period of time,” said Director of Athletics Milton Overton. “Our student-athletes continue to excel on and off the field and represent the core values of Kennesaw State University. Our mission as a department is to build champions on the field, in the classroom, in the community and in life and these outstanding young men and women represent the Gold Standard we strive to achieve on a daily basis.”

The defending ASUN Conference champions, KSU’s volleyball team were recently honored with their fourth American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Academic Team Award, given annually to collegiate and high school volleyball teams that maintained at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average. Fourteen players were listed among the ASUN Academic Honor Roll with a team GPA of 3.63.

With eight players on the ASUN Academic Honor Roll, the KSU women’s tennis team collected Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic honors in 2019, marking the eighth consecutive award for the team. The team boasts a combined 3.77 GPA.

Women’s lacrosse player Marissa Gore, who holds a 4.0 GPA in electrical engineering, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in May, marking the first time a KSU player received such recognition. She, along with 27 of her teammates, made the ASUN Academic Honor Roll.

In May, 59 student-athletes earned their degrees while another 73 posted a 4.0 GPA. More than 162 Owls landed on their respective Dean’s lists. KSU’s football team, which competes in the Big South Conference, also saw 49 players make the most recent Big South Presidential Honor Roll.

– Travis Highfield


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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.