Dec. 7, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University currently is tied for 16th in the 2007-08 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup NCAA Division II all-sports standings.

The Directors' Cup is a join effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The United States Sports Academy is the sponsor of the program, which awards points based on each institution's national finishes.

Western has a total of 147 points, earning 90 for its second-place finish in women's volleyball and 57 for its 11th-place finish in men's cross country. Grand Valley State is the leader with 321 points.

The standings do not currently include football. Once football is included Grand Valley, which is in the NCAA Final Four, will earn at least 83 more points.

Western is one of five Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools ranked in the Top 100. Seattle Pacific is ninth with 173 points, while Seattle University is 46th with 75 points. Northwest Nazarene and Western Oregon are 88th with 25.

Central Washington will climb into the Top 100 once football is included as they will earn 73 points for their national quarterfinal appearance.

The competition continues through winter and spring sports.