April 22, 2009

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics and women's volleyball programs were publicly recognized by the NCAA Wednesday as the latest multiyear Academic Progress Rates (APR) for those two teams rank in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.

The APR is a ranking developed by the NCAA to measure the academic performance of individual teams on a real-time basis by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. Based on eligibility, graduation and retention, the Academic Progress Rate is now the primary tool used by the NCAA to judge academic progress. The multiyear rate is based on data from the past four years.

Northern Illinois' women's gymnastics team, coached by Mark Sontag, posted a perfect 1000 APR for 2007-08 and were one of only six gymnastics team in the country recognized Wednesday. NIU joined Brown, William and Mary, Stanford, Pittsburgh and Yale on the gymnastics recognition list, and gymnastics was the only Huskie team to earn a perfect multiyear APR for 2007-08.

Ray Gooden's Huskie volleyball team also was honored Wednesday by the NCAA as their four-year APR came in at 995, the highest of his tenure. Northern Illinois was one of 49 volleyball teams on the public recognition list, and one of four MAC volleyball programs to be recognized.

"Congratulations to Mark [Sontag], Ray [Gooden] and their staffs for achieving these standards and putting these Huskie teams in the top 10 percent for APR nationwide," said NIU Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher. "Of course, our teams would not be on this list without the support of our entire university, and especially our Student-Athlete Academic Support Services unit, led by Francine St. Clair. We're very happy for these programs and look forward to even more of our teams joining them on the public recognition lists in the future."

Northern Illinois has had at least one team qualify for the APR public recognition award every year since it was instituted. Four different Huskie teams have now been honored in the past three years as gymnastics and volleyball joined women's golf and women's basketball in the top 10 percent club.

The complete multiyear APRs for all Division I teams will be announced by the NCAA on Wednesday, May 6. For the complete list of Academic Performance Program public recognition awards, as well as more information on the APR, go to www.ncaa.org

-- NIU --

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