March 26, 2009

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford University is currently in first place in the Germann Cup standings, which goes to the Southern Conference school fielding the league's best all-round women's sports program, the league announced Thursday.

Samford, competing in its first season in the conference has not finished lower than fourth in any women's sport going into the spring season. Samford finished first in volleyball's North Division, second in cross country and third in women's soccer in the fall to go along with a second-place finish in women's basketball and a fourth-place finish in women's indoor track and field in the winter.

Samford ranks ninth in the Commissioner's Cup standings, which is awarded to the league's top men's sports program.

In both the Commissioner's and Germann Cups schools earn points based upon their regular season finish, with two bonus points going to the team that wins the conference tournament. Sports that only meet head-to-head during the conference tournament receive points based on order of finish at the tournament.

The Commissioner's Cup originated in 1970 and the Germann Cup was first awarded in 1987. The latter is named after former SoCon Commissioner Ken Germann, who was instrumental in bringing women's sports to the conference.

Appalachian State has claimed the Commissioner's Cup 28 times since entering the SoCon in 1971, winning 16 of the last 17 cups.

Only four schools have won the Germann Cup with Furman winning 12 straight from 1993 through 2004. Appalachian State won the first six cups from 1987-1992 and grabbed two more from 2006-2007, while College of Charleston garnered the award in 2004-05. Last season Chattanooga won its first Germann Cup.

Full current standings for both the Germann Cup and the Commissioner's Cup are listed below.

2008-09 Germann Cup (through Winter 2009)
1. Samford 52
2. Western Carolina 43.5
3. Chattanooga 40
4. College of Charleston 39.5
5. Furman 38
6. UNC Greensboro 34
7. Davidson 33.5
8. Appalachian State 33
9. Georgia Southern 30
10. Elon 26
11. Wofford 12
12. The Citadel 7.5

2008-09 Commissioner's Cup (through Winter 2009)
1. Appalachian State 61
2. Chattanooga 49.5
3. The Citadel 37
4. Furman 36
4. Davidson 36
6. UNC Greensboro 33
7. Elon 32
7. Western Carolina 32
9. Samford 31.5
10. Wofford 28
11. Georgia Southern 21
12. College of Charleston 20
13. VMI (wrestling only) 7