University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Wins Sixth Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Cup
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AMHERST, Mass. -- For the sixth time in the last eight years, Massachusetts has won the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Cup, which is given in recognition of the league's top all-around athletic program, the conference office announced today.
"This is a tremendous tribute to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and support staffs," UMass Athletic Director Bob Marcum said. "We take tremendous pride in this award, and all of us are glad it is returning to Amherst for the second consecutive year."
In addition to winning the Commissioner's Cup for all-around athletic success, UMass also captured the women's Commissioner's Cup for the sixth straight season. Atlantic 10 newcomer Richmond earned the men's Cup.
UMass won four team titles this year en route to earning its sixth Cup. UMass women's teams won three of those championships - the field hockey and softball regular season titles, and the rowing championship crown. The UMass men's program captured the A-10 swimming and diving title.
Massachusetts accumulated 131.5 points, topping second place Rhode Island and its school record 129.5 points. The margin of victory was the smallest in the 10-year history of the Commissioner's Cup. UMass claimed the women's Cup with 82.5 points, with Rhode Island coming in second (73 points). As for Rhode Island, this was the second year in a row it finished second in the overall standings, as the Rams won titles in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and men's golf.
Richmond was third in the overall race with 128 points. In the men's standings, Richmond edged Rhode Island by two points, 58.5-56.5, to win the men's Cup, with UMass finishing sixth with 49 points. Spiders men's teams won Atlantic 10 championships in baseball and tennis. Richmond also took women's titles in swimming & diving and tennis.
Dayton posted its best-ever finish by placing fourth in the overall standings with a school record 105 points. The Flyers claimed the women's soccer and volleyball regular season titles. George Washington, which won the women's gymnastics championship, was fifth with 103.5 points.
Saint Joseph's placed sixth overall with 94 points, followed by Temple (91.5), La Salle (89.5), Xavier (89.0), Duquesne (79.5), St. Bonaventure (68.0), and Fordham (63.0).
Points are awarded in descending order of finish, equal to the number of teams which participate in each sport. Regular season standings are used in round-robin sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball and women's volleyball.