KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that Mount Mercy has been named the 2008 Buffalo Funds Five Star Award recipient for volleyball, a national award honoring coaches and student-athletes who exhibit exceptional character values.

"The Sisters of Mercy and their commitment to service embody the entire Mount Mercy community," said Athletic Director Scot Reisinger. "While we are proud of all of our teams that participate in service with the community, we are grateful that the volleyball team was recognized by the NAIA as an outstanding example of leadership in this area."

Teams that receive this prestigious award demonstrate respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship in and out of competition. Last fall, a young Mount Mercy volleyball team with only four upperclassmen learned how to work together toward common goals on and off the court. While trying to be the best volleyball team they could be, the Mustangs also made an impact in the community.

Last June, the Cedar Rapids community was devastated by flooding. "Our team took time off from practice to work on three area homes in August, then another later in the fall," said Head Coach Rick Blackwell. "It was hours and hours of scraping, cleaning, and painting."

But they didn't stop there. In addition, the Mustangs worked with local elementary schools to promote reading and hosted a Dig Pink event to raise money for breast cancer awareness. "Money raised at the Dig Pink event was donated to the national Side-Out Foundation, while additional funds from t-shirt sales went to the Mercy Hospital Mobile Mammography Program," Blackwell said.

The NAIA honors one institution for each of its 23 championship sports. Other teams honored during the 2008 fall sports season were the Embry-Riddle (Fla.) men's cross country team, the Mills (Calif.) women's cross country squad, the Central Christian (Kan.) men's soccer team, and the Indiana Wesleyan women's soccer squad.