EOU Athletics rank eighth in NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup fall rankings
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — Following an impressive showing across fall sports, Eastern Oregon University currently sits at a commanding eighth place in the 2023 NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. This marks a significant climb from last year’s position, ranking 27th in the country last fall.
Points within the Directors’ Cup are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NAIA fall championships. Eastern Oregon has amassed a total of 199 points so far, with standout contributions from three key programs:
Women’s Cross Country: The Mountaineers’ women’s cross country team pulled out a 30th place finish at the NAIA National Championships this fall, earning a valuable 44 points with their impressive performance.
Men’s Cross Country: The recently crowned Cascade Collegiate Conference Champions, men’s cross country crossed the finish line 7th, securing 72 points towards the Mounties position.
Volleyball: Coming off a 30-1 season and CCC Championship, the Mountaineers’ volleyball squad racked up an impressive 83 points after securing a berth in the NAIA Championships and finishing third.
With winter and spring sports still to come, the Mountaineers hold lots of potential to further elevate their position. Only seven institutions currently stand ahead of Eastern Oregon in the rankings, including Cascade Collegiate Conference rival College of Idaho.
The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, recognizes athletic excellence across all sports programs within an institution. The final standings will be revealed upon the conclusion of the spring season.
