Of all the notable achievements by the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball program — and space constraints do not allow for an exhaustive listing here — yesterday's NCAA Public Recognition Award rates right up there.

While it is the string of 34 consecutive winning seasons, 16 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, etc. that speak to UH's incredible on-the-court consistency, here is an accomplishment that illustrates the well-rounded success the Rainbow Wahine have been, in the gym and the classroom, over an enduring haul.

While the NCAA was publicly slapping the hands of underachieving academic programs based upon its Academic Progress Rate (APR) — including the UH baseball team that was docked 0.27 of a scholarship — it was also patting the backs of the pacesetters such as the Rainbow Wahine.

Over the last five years the Rainbow Wahine have been in not only the top 10 percent academically of the 325 schools that play women's volleyball but a leader among the thousands that play all sports. With a score of 1,000 marking NCAA perfection, the Rainbow Wahine had a multi-year average of 996, meaning nearly every player over the past five years maintained eligibility and made progress toward graduation.

While the Rainbow Wahine were rubbing shoulders with Columbia, Harvard and Yale, which also received recognition awards in women's volleyball, they have also numbered among Nebraska, UCLA and Texas in the polls for on-the-court success. That UH was one of just five teams in last season's final Top 25 American Volleyball Coaches Association poll to receive the NCAA recognition award is testament to doing it the right way.

It says, for example, that success on both fronts need not be mutually exclusive. That success toward graduation and the postseason can go hand in hand, if it is made a priority up and down the line. And clearly, for the Rainbow Wahine, from Dave Shoji and the coaches to the players and support staff, it has been.

No small feat considering that the Rainbow Wahine, at an annual average of 42,000 miles a year — and some seasons of cramming as many as 52,000 miles into four months of red-eye flights — are surely the NCAA's most well-traveled team.

To be sure UH has taken on some so-called "academically at-risk" players over the years, but it also seems the upperclassmen have set an example of the Rainbow Wahine way to perform, as winners in matches and the classroom.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.