Cleveland, Ohio -- The University of Lynchburg athletic department concluded the fall season at 20th in the Learfield Directors' Cup Division III fall standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics on Tuesday afternoon.

"It was a joy to watch our Fall teams take us on such incredible journeys as they navigated their respective seasons," said Director of Athletics Jon Waters. "It is a testament to our student-athletes' passion and dedication, as well as the high level of excellence our coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning staff bring to their students every day."

For the third consecutive year, Lynchburg ranks inside the top-20 of the Director's Cup rankings following the completion of the fall season with 222.5 points. In the fall of 2024 and fall of 2023, the Hornets 18th and 19th, respectively. The Learfield Directors' Cup standings are calculated by awarding points based on each institution's finish in NCAA postseason competition.

RELATED: Lynchburg Finishes Top-25 In Learfield Directors' Cup For Second Consecutive Year

Lynchburg was one of two Old Dominion Athletic Conference institutions to appear in the top 20 of the standings, joining Washington and Lee, which placed 18th overall. The ODAC also saw several additional programs earn points in the fall standings, highlighting the strength of the conference on a national scale. Atop the division III fall rankings is Tufts (485.0 points), followed by Johns Hopkins (454.5) in second and Washington-St. Louis (358.5) rounding out the top three. 

The Hornets had five programs earn points in the Director's Cup this fall season. The men's soccer team produced one of its best seasons in program history, finishing with an ODAC title and 19 total wins, the second-most in a single season in program history. The Hornets advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament, which was the furthest advancement for the program in the NCAA postseason since becoming the national runner-up in 2010.

The field hockey squad took home the ODAC championship, and earned an appearance and victory in the NCAA tournament for the third straight season. The Hornets ranked inside the top-25 in the national coaches poll throughout the entire season and had two student-athletes named NFHCA All-Americans. 

The women's volleyball team had its best season in program history by many marks, including tying the program record in wins and making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in school history. This year's squad was voted into the top-25 of the AVCA national coaches poll for the first time ever and head coach Kevin Cardoza was named the AVCA Regional Coach of the Year.

Both the men's and women's cross country teams earned points for their success at the regional and national NCAA championships. The women's squad earned fifth at the regional championships, while the men's group finished second at regionals and 26th overall at nationals.

To view the complete list of current standings for the Learfield Directors' Cup, click here.

Learfield Directors' Cup Top-20 Division III Fall Standings
1. Tufts (NESCAC) - 485.00
2. Johns Hopkins (Centennial) - 454.50
3. Washington-St. Louis (UAA) - 358.50
4. Williams (NESCAC) - 343.50
5. Trinity (TX) (SAA) - 334.00
6. Emory (UAA) - 311.00
7. Middlebury (NESCAC) - 307.50
8. Wesleyan (CT) (NESCAC) - 291.00
9. Wisconsin La Crosse (WIAC) - 278.50
10. Christopher Newport (Coast-To-Coast) - 272.00
10. MIT (NEWMAC) - 272.00
12. Chicago (UAA) - 254.50
13. Amherst (NESCAC) - 252.50
14. Carnegie Mellon (UAA) - 247.50
15. St. Olaf (MIAC) - 241.00
16. Calvin (MIAA) - 240.00
17. NYU (UAA) - 230.00
18. Washington and Lee (ODAC) - 228.00
19. Wisconsin Eau Claire (WIAC) - 224.00
20. Lynchburg (ODAC) - 222.50

Please note, standings published midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com and follow us on X @ldirectorscup.

About Learfield: Learfield is a media, data, and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. Learfield services include licensing and collegiate sports properties' multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.