April 22, 2009

DAVIS, Calif. - The NCAA announced on Wednesday that two UC Davis teams - men's water polo and women's tennis - have been honored with public recognition awards for Academic Progress Rate (APR) success, each of them earning distinction for the second consecutive year.

The distinction is bestowed upon teams that post multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all teams in their sport. Some sports had more than 10 percent of its teams earn perfect 1,000 scores resulting in more teams honored. The multi-year APR scores covered academic years from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

The APR calculation, which covers both student-athlete retention and eligibility, is part of the NCAA's committment to academic reform. Nearly 12 percent of the 6,484 Division I teams, totaling 767 teams from 211 institutions, received public recognition from the NCAA.

"It's certainly an honor for our two Aggie teams," said Greg Warzecka, Director of Athletics. "Those programs have worked hard for that distinction and we're very proud of their efforts."

Fifty-seven women's tennis teams - the most of any sport - were honored by the NCAA while UC Davis joined Harvard and Brown as men's water polo programs recognized.

UC Davis is in its second year of NCAA Division I member and is in its second year of membership in the Big West Conference.