June 14, 2012

BERKELEY - The University of California men's and women's tennis programs were each publicly recognized for high achievement in the latest multiyear Academic Progress Rates (APR), the NCAA announced Thursday.

The men's tennis program was recognized for the second straight year by the NCAA's Academic Performance Program, which honors teams that have posted multiyear APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their sport.

California was one of just three men's tennis programs in the nation to achieve a top ranking in the NCAA's Academic Performance Program and finish in the top-15 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings this past season. The Bears, who finished 13th in the season's final ITA rankings, joined Ohio State (fourth) and Stanford (ninth) in the select group.

The California women's tennis program finished the highest in the final ITA rankings among the schools lauded in the NCAA's Academic Performance Program. The Bears, who finished ranked seventh in the final ITA national poll, were one of just five women's tennis programs in the nation to be ranked in the top-20 by the ITA and achieve a top ranking by the NCAA's Academic Performance Program, joining Texas (10th), Alabama (11th), Michigan (14th) and Nebraska (16th).

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR). The announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.

Senior Jana Juricova was one of three Golden Bears to receive a Pac-12 Conference Post Graduate Scholarship, honoring outstanding student-athletes intending to pursue graduate studies that includes a $3,000 stipend for graduate work, at May's California Academic Honors Luncheon.

The women's tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, while the men's tennis team reached the round of 16 of the NCAA's earlier this spring.

Last year, volleyball, women's rowing, women's water polo and men's tennis were recognized by the NCAA in its annual report.

Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced June 20. That announcement also will include Academic Performance Program penalties for low-performing teams, teams subject to postseason ineligibility and head coach APRs.