For the third time in four years, the University of Virginia athletic program has posted a top-20 finish in the Directors' Cup race.

U.Va. was 17th in the final 2007-08 standings, which were released yesterday. The Directors' Cup competition reflects schools' performances in NCAA championships. Virginia placed 13th in 2004-05 and 2006-07. Its highest finish, eighth, came in 1998-99.

Virginia Tech finished 37th this year, by far its best showing in the Directors' Cup. The Hokies placed 48th in 2006-07.

Among ACC schools, only North Carolina (No. 14), Florida State (No. 15), U.Va. and Duke (No. 19) fared better than Virginia Tech in 2007-08.

Other than U.Va. and Tech, the only school from this state to crack the top 100 was Old Dominion, at No. 97.

Other Virginia schools that earned Directors' Cup points in Division I were William and Mary (No. 105), Liberty (No. 110), James Madison (No. 117), Richmond (No. 162), VCU (No. 201), George Mason (No. 223), Radford (No. 237), VMI (No. 276) and Hampton (No. 279).

Stanford won the Directors' Cup for 14th consecutive year, finishing with 1,461 points, well ahead of No. 2 UCLA (1,182). The Directors' Cup is sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the U.S. Sports Academy and USA Today.
Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or jwhite@timesdispatch.com.

For the complete standings, visit www.nacda.com.