The first winter standings update for the NACDA Directors Cup was released today, and Virginia fell from 2nd place at the end of the fall to 4th place here in the middle of the winter with 518 total points (the only ACC team with over 500 points). The Cavaliers placed ninth in women's swimming, 15th in wrestling and 20th in men's track and field for 181 points in the first winter Division I standings.
Florida shot up to second place after earning the championship in women's swimming and men's track and field. They also placed fourth overall in women's track and field. Men's and women's basketball, as well as men's swimming, have not yet been included in these winter standings. The Cavaliers should be earning points in women's basketball and men's swimming.
Last year, at the end of the winter standings (i.e., including the basketball and swimming points), Virginia had 492 points, so we are well ahead of schedule on that front. Virginia picked up a whopping 567 points in the spring. The Cavaliers are looking to score big again this spring, as we currently have the No. 1-ranked team in men's lacrosse, baseball, and men's tennis, which is an improvement even on last year.
We are poised for improvement this year, and hopefully should be getting points this spring in baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, women's rowing, men's and women's tennis, and possibly men's track & field. Our softball team has had a season of ups and downs, recently knocking of top-ranked Arizona and previously upsetting fourth-ranked Michigan, but falling to some teams of ...questionable skill.
The ACC currently dominates the standings with five teams in the top 20, 4 teams in the top 15 (3 teams in the top 10). Our "friends" in Blacksburg are currently ranked 18th, but should be falling after the spring sports are included, as they simply don't compete (both literally and figuratively) in many of the spring sports