XU is school-record 42nd in NAIA all-sports ranking

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana placed 42nd, the highest finish in XU history, in the NAIA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings of 2013-14.
    
The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets bettered the previous school mark of 50th in 2011-12. It's the fifth time in six years that Xavier placed among the top 100 and the third straight year that XU ranked in the top 60. Xavier was 56th a year ago.
    
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 19th year of the NAIA all-sports standings.
    
Xavier scored a school-record 305 points after a tie for third place nationally in women's tennis, a tie for fifth in men's tennis, a tie or ninth in women's basketball, a tie for 17th in men's basketball, 25th in women's track and field and a tie for 25th in women's volleyball.
    
"Many have contributed to our best ranking ever, from the student-athletes, to the coaches, the support staff, faculty, staff, alumni and certainly the administration," said Jason Horn, XU director of athletics and recreation. "Xavier University is committed to achieving excellence in everything that we do, and it takes more than one person or a small group of people to reach the high levels that our department reached this year."
    
Xavier was the only HBCU (historically black college or university) with a top-50 finish this season from the NAIA or NCAA divisions II or III.
    
The top three NAIA schools were Oklahoma Baptist with 907.5 points, Oklahoma City with 763.25 and Lindsey Wilson with 756. Oklahoma Baptist led for the second consecutive year.

Xavier in NAIA all-sports standings
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 Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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