MACOMB, Ill. – Two of Western Illinois Leatherneck Athletics sport programs earned academic distinction from the NCAA on Wednesday (June 5). The volleyball and women's tennis programs both recorded a perfect 1,000 in multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR), in information released by the NCAA.

Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The score measures eligibility and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years. The remaining APR scores for all other sport programs will be announced by the NCAA next week.

For the third consecutive year, the Leathernecks had at least one program earn the Top 10 percent distinction. Women's tennis received the honor for the second straight year and volleyball earned the accolade for the first time. Those two programs join softball (2009-10) and men's tennis (2004-05) in ranking among the 'Top 10' percent nationally among their respective programs. Western shared for most sport programs being honored among all Summit League institutions.

“For volleyball and women's tennis to earn the APR recognition award is an incredible honor for those programs, coaching staffs, Leatherneck Athletics, and the Summit League. These two teams show that it is possible to balance academics, athletics and exceed standards in the very demanding world of intercollegiate athletics,” said Interim Director of Athletics Lisa Melz-Jennings. “Both programs consistently finish among the department's semester grade point average leaders, and now being highlighted by the NCAA as a leader in multiyear APR is a great honor."

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