For the seventh year in a row, the Penn Manor girls' varsity volleyball team has earned a Team Academic Award from the United States Marine Corps/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

The Comets were also named, for the sixth time, to the AVCA's Team Academic Award Honor Roll for earning a cumulative GPA in the top 20% of all girls' high school teams in the nation during the 2022-23 school year. Penn Manor was one of only five Pennsylvania high school teams to make the honor roll.

The team's cumulative GPA was 3.67, and nine players earned GPAs of 4.0 or higher; these players are Abigail Andrew, Jordan Bailey, Janelle Bowmaster, Mackenzie Cassel, Haley Frey, Magnolia Garvey, Eliana Knaub, Cassidy McCollum and Lillie Swanson. The Comets' roster also includes Jillian Kloc, Brianna Lee, Taylor Long, Lezlie Nguyen, Maya Sugra and Alyssa Mattern.

McCollum had the highest GPA - 4.6 - and was a three-time Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star, a District III All-Star and Penn Manor's L-L League Academic Award winner for 2022-23.

The Comets compiled a 10-7 record and upset Central Dauphin in the first round of the playoffs.

Head coach Tim Joyce attributes the team's consistent success to its guiding principle of ACES - attitude, character, effort and skill - emphasizing that the first three qualities must come first for skills to improve.

"Penn Manor's strong (Advanced Placement) programs and dual-enrollment classes help our athletes maximize their academic potential," he said. In addition, team members participate in a weekly Girls' Volleyball Club, where athletes hold a study hall and peer tutor each other, Joyce said.

"But ultimately, Penn Manor's strong faculty and staff are at the foundation of it all, supporting our student-athletes at our matches and in their classrooms and remaining flexible with their very busy schedules," Joyce said.