RIVERSIDE, Calif. (June 4, 2015) — In just two years as a fully-fledged NCAA Division II member, California Baptist University has established itself as one of the top athletic programs in the division. The Lancers finished the 2014-15 season with a 16th-place finish in the Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, moving up 10 spots from last year's placement.

"Our student athletes and coaches had a great year," said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics. "It's exciting to be ranked so high in only our second year in the NCAA division II."

CBU — who claimed its third PacWest Commissioner's Cup earlier this spring — finishes as the highest program not only among the PacWest institutions, but the West Region as well with 523.70 points. Azusa Pacific comes in at No. 17 (522.75) in its first year eligible, while Simon Fraser is the next West Region program, sitting at No. 26 (467.00).

The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.  Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women's and seven men's. CBU picked up a bulk of its points in the winter with both basketball programs making it to the Sweet 16 and the women moving on to finish as the national runner-up team.

After the spring season concluded, CBU was awarded points for baseball, softball, women's golf and women's track each advancing to postseason. Women's golf added 60 points for its 13th-place overall finish on the year and the Lancer softball program dished out another 50 after finishing the year 17th in the division. Baseball tacked on 25 points after making its 11th postseason appearance in 12 years and ending the successful campaign as the 33rd team in the division. Women's track rounded out the final points of the spring season after Veronica Hall became the first Lancer to earn NCAA Division II All-American honors in the 1500-meter, crossing the finish line for seventh place.