2014-15 Big West Commissioner's Cup Release
Long Beach State claimed its fifth straight Commissioner’s Cup this season, entering rare company in the Cup’s 16-year history.
The 49ers had an average of 117.1 points over their 14 sports in 2014-15, the seventh Cup for the program in the last 10 seasons. The seven titles is second all-time, while the five consecutive championships makes LBSU just the second program, along with UC Santa Barbara, to claim that many in succession. Long Beach State had strong finishes up and down the roster as it was led by championships from women’s volleyball, women’s tennis and men’s track & field. There were also top four finishes in men’s cross country, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf and softball to lead the program to another top spot in the Cup standings.
UC Davis finished up in second place with a 111.9-point average over its 16 sports, the second-highest average the program has recorded in Cup history. The Aggies were a consistent performer during ‘14-15, not finishing lower than third in any season. UCD was led by its championship women’s cross country, men’s basketball and women’s golf clubs, while the men’s golf, women’s track & field and men’s tennis clubs showed off the Aggie depth with top two finishes.
UC Santa Barbara was the third place finisher in this year’s Commissioner’s Cup, recording an average of 106.7 over 15 sports. The Gauchos picked up championships in men’s cross country and men’s soccer, but also had top three finishes in women’s cross country, men’s basketball, women’s tennis, men’s golf, men’s and women’s track & field and baseball. UCSB has now recorded at least a 100-point average in 14 consecutive Commissioner’s Cup races, joining Long Beach State as the only programs to achieve that feat.
Cal Poly and UC Irvine finished 4-5 in close fashion as the Mustangs put up a 94.7 average, just outpacing the Anteaters’ 94.0 average. Cal Poly didn’t pick up a title this season, but had second place finishes in men’s and women’s cross country and women’s soccer to go along with a third place showing in women’s basketball and women’s track & field. UCI’s championships in men’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s water polo wrapped up a strong spring that saw the program record a 103.8 average.
Hawai’i was sixth in the rankings at 92.3, picking up a championship in women’s basketball and adding second place showings in women’s golf and women’s water polo. Seventh went to CSUN with 92.0 points, spearheaded by titles in softball and women’s track & field. UC Riverside was eighth with 82.0 points, aided by a division title in men’s soccer, while Cal State Fullerton completed the standings with 80.0 points, led by their championship women’s soccer and baseball contingents.
The Big West Commissioner’s Cup, which started during the 1998-99 season, is awarded to the institution with the highest average point total following the 16 Conference sport seasons. Points are not awarded if the institution does not sponsor the sport or any other sport it may compete in.
In determining a champion, the following round robin sports have points awarded on the basis of the final regular season standings, including a 20-point bonus for the champion. These sports are baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. In the sports of cross country, golf, men’s tennis, track & field and women’s water polo, the points are awarded based on finish at the Conference Championship. In the case of ties in all sports, points shall be awarded by combining points and dividing them equally among the tied teams.
A complete recap of the point system is available in the document above.