After its most successful fall season ever, it's no surprise that High Point University is leading the Big South Sasser Cup standings after fall competition. The Panthers won Big South tournament titles in women's soccer and volleyball and regular season championships in men's and women's soccer.
"We couldn't be more proud of the way our teams performed this fall," said HPU Athletic Director Craig Keilitz. "We want High Point University to compete at a championship level in every sport and this season showed that our goal is becoming a reality. The Sasser Cup standings are a great way to measure our athletic department and we're hopeful that we can remain at the top throughout this year."
The Sasser Cup is awarded to the Big South member institution with the most successful year athletically based on a points and ratio system. Between regular season and tournament standings, High Point University had eight opportunities in the fall season and finished first or second in seven of those eight opportunities. That success rate made HPU the clear leader in the Sasser Cup standings after the fall season.
High Point leads the current Sasser Cup standings with a score of 13.80 followed by Liberty (11.92) and Coastal Carolina (9.92). Winthrop ranks fourth overall with a score of 8.90 followed by VMI (7.55), Radford (6.90) and Gardner-Webb (6.54). UNC Asheville ranks seventh at 5.70 followed by Charleston Southern (5.55) and Presbyterian College (2.19).
Here's a snapshot of each High Point University team's success in the league this fall:
Women's Soccer
-HPU won its second-consecutive Big South Championship with a 1-0 victory over Gardner-Webb in overtime.
-The Panthers tied for the Big South regular season title with a 6-2-1 record, the six wins were a new high for HPU.
-HPU's 11 overall wins tied the program's best since joining NCAA Div. I.
-Janay Whittaker and Kelli Joline were named first-team All-Big South; Sara Rager and Sammy Vercellino were named to the second team.
Volleyball
-HPU won its first-ever Big South Tournament, beating Liberty in the championship game.
-The Panthers finished second in the Big South regular season standings with a 13-3 conference record.
-HPU is 22-12 overall and will play its first-ever NCAA Tournament game at Duke on Friday.
-Seniors Julie Hershkowitz, Megan Smith and Stephanie Wallin earned All-Conference honors and Maddie Simpson was named to the All-Freshman Team.
-Audie Gonzalez was the Big South Tournament MVP while Megan Smith and Maddie Simpson joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Men's Soccer
-HPU won its first-ever Big South regular season championship, going 8-0-0 in conference play, and advanced to the Big South tournament final.
-HPU's 16-4-1 record was the best in the history of the program.
-Karo Okiomah was first HPU player named Big South Player of the Year.
-
Dustin Fonder was named Big South Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.
-Michael Chesler, Fejiro Okiomah, Karo Okiomah, Scott Rojo, Shawn Sloan and were named first-team All-Big South.
Men's Cross Country
-HPU finished second at the Big South Championship on Oct. 30.
-The Panthers have finished in the top three at the Big South Championship every year since 2001.
-HPU's Neal Darmody, Patrick Crawford and Jevin Monds were named All-Big South.
-Patrick Crawford was named Big South Freshman of the Year.
Women's Cross Country
-High Point University finished fourth at the Big South Championship, just eight points away from second.
-Emily Webb was named All-Conference for the second year in a row with her fifth-place finish at the championship.
-HPU's top five finishers at the Big South Championship were within 32 seconds of each other.
| SASSER CUP STANDINGS |
| 1. |
High Point |
13.80 |
| 2. |
Liberty |
11.92 |
| 3. |
Coastal Carolina |
9.92 |
| 4. |
Winthrop |
8.90 |
| 5. |
VMI |
7.55 |
| 6. |
Radford |
6.90 |
| 7. |
Gardner-Webb |
6.54 |
| 8. |
UNC Asheville |
5.70 |
| 9. |
Charleston So. |
5.55 |
| 10. |
Presbyterian |
2.19 |
|
| WOMEN'S SPORTS STANDINGS |
| 1. |
High Point |
13.67 |
| 2. |
Liberty |
13.33 |
| 3. |
Coastal Carolina |
10.00 |
| 4. |
Winthrop |
9.83 |
| 5. |
VMI |
8.00 |
| 6. |
Charleston So. |
7.50 |
| 7. |
Gardner-Webb |
6.83 |
| 8. |
UNC Asheville |
6.00 |
| 9. |
Radford |
5.50 |
| 10. |
Presbyterian |
2.75 |
|
| MEN'S SPORTS STANDINGS |
| 1. |
High Point |
14.00 |
| 2. |
Liberty |
10.50 |
| 3. |
Coastal Carolina |
9.83 |
| 4. |
Radford |
9.00 |
| 5. |
Winthrop |
7.50 |
| 6. |
VMI |
7.25 |
| 7. |
Gardner-Webb |
6.25 |
| 8. |
UNC Asheville |
5.25 |
| 9. |
Charleston So. |
2.63 |
| 10. |
Presbyterian |
1.63 |
|
