The South Atlantic Conference Places Seven Member Institutions in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup Fall Standings
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference placed seven member institutions in the 2015-16 Learfield Sports Director's Cup Fall Standings. The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women's and seven men's.
Carson-Newman tops the South Atlantic Conference at No. 10 with 187 points. Wingate was also in the Top 25 at No. 22 as it picked up 145 points. Queens came in at No. 52 with 88 points, while Lenoir-Rhyne's 64 points was good for No. 84. Mars Hill collected 49 points to place at No. 128. Catawba and Newberry tied at No. 138 with 25 points.
Carson-Newman ranked No. 1 in the standings among Southeast Region member institutions and highlighted its fall with a fifth-place finish in the nation in volleyball to pick up 73 points in the cup. The Eagles won the NCAA Volleyball Southeast Regional Crown and advanced to the Elite 8. The Eagles' women's soccer team advanced to the Southeast Regional Finals to place No. 9 in the country and garner 64 points. Carson-Newman's men's soccer team collected 25 points with a trip to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship. Carson-Newman's football team earned 25 points as it placed No. 17 in the nation with a trip to the NCAA D-II Football Championship.
The Wingate men's soccer team led the Bulldogs with a 17th-place finish in the country and 50 points. The Bulldogs' women's cross country squad closed their season out with 45 points as they placed No. 29 in Division II. Wingate's women's soccer and volleyball teams each collected 25 points as they came in at No. 33 in the country.
The Royals' women's cross country team placed 28th in the NCAA and received 46 points, while it's men's team earned Queens 42 points with a finish of No. 32 in the country.
The Mars Hill Lions' men's cross country team turned in a 25th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championship to earn 49 points in the standings.
The Catawba and Newberry football teams each earned bids to the NCAA D-II Football Championship to collect 25 points.