{"id":694,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:42","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/nettinggoodgrades\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:42","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:42","slug":"nettinggoodgrades","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/nettinggoodgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"2015 Netting good grades"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 With a total team GPA of 3.38, the Western Connecticut State University<\/a> women\u2019s volleyball team<\/a> has proved that academics are as important as winning by working as hard in the classroom this season as it did on the court. Not only did the team capture this year\u2019s Little East Championship<\/a> and make it to the NCAA tournament<\/a>, but it also earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt starts with recruiting,\u201d said Don Ferguson<\/a>, who is in his third year as the team\u2019s head coach. \u201cYou recruit the right type of student: one who cares about academics as much as sports. Our job is to win and to foster a great academic environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The national award is based on the 2013-14 academic performance and includes the GPA of every team member. Four members of the team are in the university\u2019s Honors Program<\/a>. In addition to being outstanding academically, Karissa Smith<\/a>, a WCSU sophomore with a 4.0 GPA, was named \u201cMost Outstanding Player\u201d in the LEC championships this season.<\/p>\n

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Smith said that being on the WCSU volleyball team helps her structure her time and keep her on task.<\/p>\n

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\n \u201cI am surrounded by talented and intelligent girls. Giving your all on the court and in the classroom becomes a part of who we are and also gives a sense of community. If I have trouble with anything, I can go to my teammates or my coach for help. Not everyone is that lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The team\u2019s 12 members, under Ferguson\u2019s guidance, have created a culture of success. He holds study hall for all of the team\u2019s freshmen and for those upper-class students who may be struggling with a course.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe culture has changed,\u201d said Ferguson, who was the head volleyball coach at the University of Hartford before coming to WCSU. \u201cWe care about what they do in the classroom, not just on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

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He also said the students give each other positive reinforcement and encourage each other in their studies.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a major motivator, being part of a team that cares about you and they share grades and successes,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cEveryone helps each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The commitment to the team is a hefty one with 34 matches a season and 20 hours a week of practice. The season starts in mid-August and ends in November. But the commitment doesn\u2019t end there. Before finals, Ferguson meets with team members individually to check progress in their coursework. Then after a brief break, the team hits the weight rooms for strengthening and conditioning before practice tournaments in April. He also works with his seniors planning to attend graduate school and helps with alumni connections and job placements. \u201cPlaying a sport is more than just playing. It opens a lot of doors for them through networking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.
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