(As of December 14, 1995)

North Dakota State Holds the Lead at the End of the Fall Season

North Dakota State jumped 12 places to take the lead at the end of the fall season in the race for the Division II Sears Directors' Cup.

North Dakota State used a fifth place finish in football and a 17th in women's volleyball to move from 13th place to the top spot. The Bison, which also placed 17th in both men's and women's cross country, hold a commanding 70-point lead with 197.0 total points. Barry (Fla.), which had been tied for 17th, is in second with 127.0 points. The previous leader, Western State (Col.) moves to third place with 126.0 points. Rounding out the top five are Central Missouri State, fourth, 124.0 points; and California State-Bakersfield, fifth with 123.5 points.

These are the final standings for the fall season and include the sports of men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball. Taking home the championships in those sports are Adams State (Col.) in women's cross country; Western State (Col.), men's cross country; Lock Haven (Penn.), field hockey; North Alabama, football; Franklin Pierce (N.H.), women's soccer; Southern Connecticut State, men's soccer; and Barry (Fla.), women's volleyball.

There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

To determine the champion, points are awarded based on each institution's finish in 16 sports--six core sports for men, six core sports for women and two wild card sports each for men and women. The core sports include, for men--baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis; and for women--basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, outdoor track and field and volleyball. A first-place finish earns 64 points, second earns 63 points, etc.

The winner of the award will receive a trophy designed by Waterford Crystal, which will tour the country, appearing at major men's and women's events throughout the year.

A complete listing of the final fall sports standings follows. These are official standings and have been verified by the independent accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in 16 sports: six core sports for men, six core sports for women and two wild card sports each for men and women. A first-place finish earns 64 points, second earns 63 points, etc.

The sports codes are as follows: W.CC - women's cross country, M. CC - men's cross country, FH - field hockey; FB - football; W. SOC - women's soccer; M. SOC - men's soccer; and W. VB - women's volleyball.

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