CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team was once again recognized for its success in the classroom, as the team received the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award. The award, announced Monday (July 19) by the America Volleyball Coaches Association, recognizes programs that maintain a year-long GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
 
As a team, the Flames posted a 3.54 GPA throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
 
The Team Academic Award, which was first introduced in the 1992-93 academic year, honored 1,275 collegiate and high school teams this year.
 
UIC not only excelled in the classroom but in competition as well. The Flames fought back from a 2-0 deficit and an 18-8 deficit in set four to defeat defending conference champion Northern Kentucky in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship in a five-set thriller. With the win, UIC advanced to the Horizon League Championship match for the first time since 2012, where they would meet with regular season champion Wright State.