Saturday, June 13, 2015

XU Produces Another Top-50 Finish In NAIA All-Sports Standings



NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana finished 50th in the NAIA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings of 2014-15 and was No. 1 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and No. 1 among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

It's the fourth consecutive year that Xavier finished in the top 60 and third time in four years that Xavier was among the top 50. Xavier was a school-record 42nd a year ago.

"It has been another excellent year for Xavier Athletics and Team Gold," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Jason Horn. "We are proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for their collaboration and hard work to produce this national ranking. We look forward with optimism and enthusiasm to another great year for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets in 2015-16."

The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today newspaper. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 12 sports — six women's and six men's. This is the 20th year of the NAIA all-sports standings.

Xavier scored 286 points, its second-highest total ever, after a tie for third place nationally in women's tennis, a tie for fifth in men's tennis, a tie for 17th in men's basketball, a tie for 25th in women's volleyball, 36th in men's cross country, 38th in women's cross country and a tie for 52nd in women's track and field. Seven of Xavier's nine teams scored nationally.

Three other GCAC members were ranked. SUNO was 52nd with 274.25 points, Talladega tied for 136th with 83 points, and Philander Smith tied for 170th with 25 points. Xavier and SUNO were the top two HBCUs, followed by Wiley (Red River Athletic Conference) in 58th place with 249 points and Langston (Red River) at No. 79 with 181.5 points.

Xavier finished ahead of five schools it trailed a year ago.

For the second consecutive year, Xavier was the only HBCU with a top-50 finish from the NAIA or NCAA divisions II or III.

The top three NAIA schools were Oklahoma Baptist with 854.5 points, Lindsey Wilson with 823.5 and Oklahoma City with 802.75. Oklahoma Baptist led for the third consecutive year. Seven top-10 schools were the same as a year ago.

Xavier in NAIA all-sports standings
2014-15 50th
2013-14 42nd
2012-13 56th
2011-12 50th
2010-11 102nd
2009-10 83rd
2008-09 tie-92nd
2007-08 141st
2006-07 156th
2005-06 no teams (Hurricane Katrina)
2004-05 not in top 100
2003-04 86th
2002-03 tie-163rd
2001-02 tie-238th
2000-01 tie-199th
1999-2000 not in top 234
1998-99 tie-210th
1997-98 tie-194th
1996-97 164th
1995-96 146th

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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