The New York Public High School Athletic Association has recently announced that for the fourth straight year, Elmont Memorial High School's girls varsity volleyball team has earned the NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Team Award. This award is given to teams achieving academic excellence while actively participating in varsity level interscholastic athletics. In order for the team to win such an award, the team must meet the requirement of an overall academic average over 90 percent while also being involved in a challenging conference schedule.

Team members include captain Catrina Bowen as well as teammates Beverly Bowen, Chelsea Richards, Jessica Macean, Toni-Ann Lawrence, Breanna Williams, Jasmine Varughese, and Sully Tejada.

These student athletes received individual awards in addition to their team award. Lawrence won an All-County Honorable Mention award. A junior, Lawrence was the starting middle blocker for the team and averaged 3.2 blocks, and 10.9 kills per match. Bowen, the senior captain, received an All-Conference award for her excellence as a setter. Bowen was instrumental in the team's playoff run, tallying 11.6 assists per match. Varughese, a junior, was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award as she achieved the highest GPA at 94.7.

The team also made the playoffs this year, which demonstrates their commitment to excellence on and off the court. "We are very proud to win this award for the fourth year in a row. Excellence in the classroom translates into excellence on the court," said Bowen.

The team is coached by Michelle Seeley who said, "The girls refuse to put forth anything other than their best. I am fortunate to work with them and look forward to hearing about their future successes well after they graduate from Elmont."

All at Elmont Memorial High School congratulate these young ladies on their accomplishments athletically and academically.