ROYAL CITY - The Royal Lady Knights volleyball team claimed their second consecutive 1A academic state championship this season.

The Lady Knights won the 1A Washington Interscholastic Activities Association volleyball academic state championship with a 3.825 team grade point average.

Royal head coach Ashley Roberts said she is proud of her team.

"It was the second year in a row we have won the award," she said. "It is good to know the girls can balance athletics and school. It is important that they do that."

The Royal High School administration informed the Lady Knights of their title during the South Central Athletic Conference district tournament, Roberts said.

"We found out at districts," she said. "We didn't get a chance to celebrate."

After her team won the award, Roberts told her Lady Knights she was impressed with their dedication to academics.

"I congratulated them, they did an amazing job," she said. "That's going to show in the long run - it's not your athletic achievements, but your grades."

Royal won the 2007 academic state champion with a 3.798 grade point average.