Nov. 5, 2012

BERKELEY - The California men's and women's tennis programs earned 2011-12 NCAA Public Recognition Awards for high achievement in the latest multiyear Academic Progress Rates (APR).

The men's tennis program was recognized for the third straight year - and women's tennis 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.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your institution's recipients of the NCAA Public Recognition Award," NCAA President Mark Emmert wrote to all the teams earning NCAA Public Recognition Awards. "Thank you for your leadership and support of the academic reform efforts. These teams represent intercollegiate athletics at its best."

Cal 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 were 13th in the season's final ITA rankings, joined Ohio State (fourth) and Stanford (ninth) in the select group.

The Cal 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 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.