For the second consecutive year, the Big West Conference had five schools finish in the top 100 of the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings.  The Big West tied the Ivy League for most representation in the top 100 among conferences not affiliated with the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision.

The Directors' Cup is compiled annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), United States Sports Academy and USA Today to rank the overall best collegiate athletics programs in the country, according to their finishes in postseason play.

Cal Poly led all Big West schools at No. 80, compiling 253.50 points.  In addition to the women's volleyball team advancing to the round of 16, the Mustangs also picked up points from the men's cross country and women's track and field teams.

UC Irvine was the next highest Big West finisher with 218.00 points for 90th place.  The Anteaters accumulated the majority of their points with a solid spring season, as the baseball, men's golf and women's golf teams all made postseason appearances.

Finishing in succession were No. 94 UC Santa Barbara, No. 95 UC Davis and No. 96 Long Beach State.  This is the sixth straight year UCSB has placed in the top 100 and the third in a row for LBSU.  UCD, in its first year of Division I and Big West membership, featured postseason appearances from its men's soccer, baseball, women's golf and women's water polo teams.

Women's water polo will become the 18th Big West-sponsored sport beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

BIG WEST IN U.S. SPORTS ACADEMY DIRECTORS' CUP

80        Cal Poly               253.50
90        UC Irvine              218.00
94        UC Santa Barbara       199.00
95        UC Davis               193.00
96        Long Beach State       192.00
111       Cal State Fullerton    168.50
165       Cal State Northridge    75.50