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BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech accumulated 640.50 points during the 2014-15 academic year to finish in 35th place in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition, as announced Thursday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The point total was the highest ever for the school, surpassing the 629.00 points earned during the 2012-13 seasons, while the finish tied for the best ever, first reached after the 2011-12 campaign. The finish marks the fourth straight year Tech has achieved 37th or better in the standings - only 29 other schools in the country can boast that and only five other ACC programs - while the Hokies have finished 38th or better in five of the past six years.

“Virginia Tech’s ranking reflects the continued hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff,” Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said. “We proudly recognize this true team effort and as we continue striving forward, strong together as Hokies.”

The wrestling team led all Tech programs with 67.50 points as a result of its 10th-place showing at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. The women’s soccer team added 64.00 points, the most on the women’s side, for its run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Championship, its third appearance there in four seasons.

Behind national champion Irena Sediva (javelin), the women’s outdoor track and field program finished in 15th place to secure 58.50 points, while the football team brought home 45.00 points thanks to its 33-17 victory over Cincinnati in the Military Bowl.

Also helping the Hokies to their highest point total were men’s tennis (50.00), women’s tennis (50.00) and women’s cross country (49.00), as those teams all either tied or topped their highest scoring output since Tech has been a member of the ACC.

In all, 14 of Tech’s 21 programs scored points for the Hokies with women’s and men’s sports equaling at seven apiece. On the men’s side, indoor track and field (45.00), swimming and diving (43.00), men’s outdoor track and field (36.50) and golf (28.50) all scored points. On the women’s side, swimming and diving (47.00), indoor track and field (31.50) and softball (25.00) rounded out the scoring. Next season, women’s golf will make it 22 programs for Tech and could be in the mix.

Stanford won the Directors’ Cup with a combined 1,448.00 points, followed by UCLA (1,236.00) and USC (1,209). The top ACC school was North Carolina, who finished in fifth place with 1,152.00 points.

There are four Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup awards, one to honor the institution with the best overall athletics program in each of the NCAA’s Divisions I, II and III, and the NAIA. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- 10 women’s and 10 men’s. The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was started in 1993-94 and was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today.

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