From women’s swimming to baseball to men’s lacrosse to track and field, UVA had another exceptional season across its varsity sports. (Photos by Jamie Holt, UVA Athletics, and Matt Riley, University Communications; Illustration by John DiJulio, University Communications)
The continuation of a women’s swimming dynasty highlighted another banner year in University of Virginia athletics.
UVA, which also had deep tournaments runs in men’s lacrosse, field hockey and baseball, finished fifth among NCAA Division I schools in the final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings for 2023-24.
This marks Virginia’s fourth top-five finish in the Directors’ Cup’s 31-year history. UVA placed fourth in last year’s final standings.
• Women's swimming & diving NCAA champs
• NCAA Final Four in men's lacrosse and field hockey
• Baseball College World Series
• 21 sports in NCAA postseason
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Points in the Directors’ Cup standings are awarded by a school’s NCAA postseason finish in 19 sports, four of which must be men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and volleyball.
The Cavaliers scored big in women’s swimming and diving, thanks to the program winning its fourth consecutive national championship in March, while both the field hockey and men’s lacrosse teams made the national semifinals of their respective NCAA tournaments. The baseball team made the College World Series for a second straight season and seventh time in 15 years.
Other highlights from the season include the men’s golf team finishing a program-best fifth at the NCAA Championship for the second straight season, men’s and women’s tennis advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals and men’s outdoor track and field finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships.
The softball team advanced to its first NCAA Regional final, and rowing finished 13th at the NCAA Championship.
“We had another incredible season in competition and in the classroom,” Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and staff continue to perform at the highest level while representing themselves and this wonderful university with honor and integrity. Our continued excellence is a tribute to their hard work and dedication. We are so grateful for the opportunity to represent the University of Virginia.”
Virginia placed in the top 25 for the 17th consecutive time and is one of 10 schools to rank in the top 30 of the final Directors’ Cup standings in every year of the competition. The Cavaliers were also the top Atlantic Coast Conference school for the second consecutive year, finishing ahead of seventh-place University of North Carolina.
December 21, 2024
