U.Va. eighth in Directors’ Cup, tying its top finish

CHARLOTTESVILLE - A stellar showing in the spring, including a trip to the College World Series in baseball, lifted the University of Virginia to an eighth-place finish in the Directors' Cup competition for Division I.

U.Va., which won six ACC titles in 2008-09, tied its top finish in the 16-year history of the Directors' Cup competition, which reflects schools' performances in NCAA championships. Virginia also placed eighth in 1998-99.

This spring, Virginia totaled 567 points, scoring in men's lacrosse (83), women's rowing (80), baseball (78), men's tennis (73), women's golf (70.5), women's tennis (50), men's golf (46.5), women's track and field (36.5), women's lacrosse (25) and men's track and field (24.5).

Only Southern California (635.75) totaled more points in the spring than U.Va. USC finished fourth overall.

Of the 278 Division I schools that earned Directors' Cup points in 2008-09, 13 were from this state. The National Association of Directors of Athletics announced the final results yesterday.

In addition to U.Va. at No. 8, Virginia Tech finished 46th, James Madison 94th, William and Mary 117th (tie), Liberty 120th (tie), the University of Richmond 131st, George Mason 142nd (tie), Radford 153rd (tie), Hampton 163rd (tie), VCU 167th (tie), Old Dominion 196th, Norfolk State 263rd (tie) and VMI 271st (tie).

Virginia is among 15 schools that have finished in the top 30 in each of the Directors' Cup race's 16 years. U.Va. was 17th in 2007-08.

In a statement, Athletic Director Craig Littlepage praised the work of U.Va. coaches, athletes and athletic-department staff members. He also said Virginia's "future challenge is to be an athletics program that consistently performs among the nation's top 10 in the Directors' Cup standings, while at the same time ranking among the national leaders in the academic achievements of our student-athletes."

Stanford, with 1,455 points, won the Directors' Cup for the 15th consecutive year. North Carolina (1,184.25) was second. Complete results can be found at http://www.nacda.com.