NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the second year in a row, Christopher Newport University has hauled in a Top 25 finish in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, wrapping up the 2011-12 campaign as the 23rd most successful program in the nation. The Captains rank among the top 5.2% of over 440 Division III programs.

CNU collected 485 points in the Directors' Cup standings this year, the second highest total in school history. The Captains earned points with 12 NCAA Championship appearances, led by a second-place finish and the subsequent 90 points from the women's volleyball program in the fall.

In the fall, CNU scored 165 points, 88 in the winter season and 232 more after the conclusion of the spring season. Points are awarded for programs that advance to the NCAA Tournament and in 2011-12, 318 Division III programs earned points toward the Directors' Cup. Middlebury (Vt.) captured the top spot for the first time in school history. For the fourth straight year, CNU was the top-ranked school in Virginia and also led the way for the USA South. 

The overall success of the program was kicked off in a big way in 2011-12, as head coach Lindsay Birch guided the Captains' volleyball team to a third straight NCAA Championship appearance. This year, though, CNU would advance farther than ever before, reaching the championship game against Wittenberg and bringing home national runner-up honors. The CNU baseball team also returned to the NCAA Finals, finishing in a tie for seventh and collecting 73 points toward the Cup.

Softball just missed a third straight appearance in Salem at the NCAA Championship, but head coach Keith Parr's Captains still hauled in 64 points by reaching the NCAA Regional Final. The Captains also picked up points in football, men's hoops, men's soccer, women's lacrosse, men's golf, field hockey and both indoor and outdoor track and field.

As a department, Christopher Newport again boasted a dominant win-loss record, finishing with a combined 248-85-2 overall mark for a 74.3% winning percentage. CNU teams won 87.2% of conference games, going 105-15-1 against the USA South.

The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports -- nine women's and nine men's. It is a program that honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program and celebrates those programs achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's. Beginning in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA.

For the complete rankings and release, click here.