SEATTLE (June 15) ­ Seattle Pacific University led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the third year in a row, finishing 26th among NCAA Division II programs in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup.

Michigan's Grand Valley State University won its fourth consecutive Directors' Cup, presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), United States Sports Academy and USA Today to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.

Seattle Pacific accumulated 11 more points than a year ago, when it reached an all-time high of 14th. SPU earned top 10 national finishes in women's cross country (6th), women's indoor track and field (7th) and women's outdoor track and field (7th) and also qualified for the NCAA playoffs in volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's basketball and women's basketball.

The Falcons' 416 points is the highest ever total for a GNAC team. They were fourth in the West Region, behind UC San Diego (2nd), Chico State (17th) and Cal State L.A. (21st).

Earlier, Seattle Pacific won its second straight GNAC All-Sports crown. The next-best GNAC team in the Directors' Cup standings was Western Washington in 32nd.

Points are awarded in the competition based on a school's finish in regional and national competition.

Final Standings
1 Grand Valley State 995.75
2 UC San Diego 802.00
3 Abilene Christian 761.75
4 Minnesota State Mankato 642.25
5 North Dakota 635.00
6 Central Missouri 628.75
7 Nebraska Omaha 624.50
8 Adams State 589.00
9 Drury (Mo.) 556.00
10 Florida Southern 554.00
11 Southern Illinois Edwardsville 546.50
12 West Chester 504.50
13 Ashland 504.00
14 West Florida 495.50
15 Western State (Colo.) 491.25
16 Truman State 472.50
17 Cal State Chico 470.00
18 Indianapolis 464.50
19 Tampa 459.00
20 Lock Haven 457.00
21 Cal State Los Angeles 453.00
22 Nebraska Kearney 452.75
23 Massachusetts Lowell 439.25
24 North Carolina Central 430.50
24 Wayne State (Mich.) 430.00
26 Seattle Pacific 416.00
27 Bryant (R.I.) 415.00
28 Ferris State 414.50
29 Northwest Missouri State 405.00
30 Southern Connecticut State 397.50
Other GNAC programs: 32. Western Washington 392 1/2; 66. Seattle 272; 92. Alaska Anchorage 205 1/2; 109. Alaska Fairbanks 167; 126. Central Washington 132 1/2; 201. Western Oregon 28 1/2; 219. Northwest Nazarene 22. (Note: MSU Billings, which joins the GNAC July 1, placed 160th with 75 points).