NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is one of 191 teams and clubs nationwide to earn an American Volleyball Coaches Association Community Voting Award.
        The AVCA announced Thursday the recipients of this first-year award. XULA volleyball qualified because 100 percent of its eligible student-athletes and staff voted in the 2020 November election.
        "I'm proud the team played an active role in the voting process," said Pat Kendrick, XULA's fourth-year head coach.
        XULA was one of five NAIA women's teams to receive the AVCA award and the only one from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
        "Our goal as leaders of young people is to model responsible behavior and to instill good habits," said Kathy DeBoer, the AVCA's executive director. "Whether it's the court, the classroom or the voting booth, coaches matter in the lives of their players. This award is another way to highlight that fact."
        The AVCA will send qualifying teams a congratulatory letter and a frameable certificate. The AVCA also will send a letter of acknowledgement to each institution's director of athletics and president.