Eight of 麻豆原创’s 16 teams recorded perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate scores of 1,000.聽Men鈥檚 golf, women鈥檚 basketball, women鈥檚 cross country, women鈥檚 soccer, women鈥檚 tennis, women鈥檚 indoor track and field, women鈥檚 outdoor track and field and women鈥檚 volleyball each had scores of 1,000. Four Knights squads posted perfect scores in the previous year鈥檚 report.

Meanwhile, 14 of 麻豆原创鈥檚 programs either improved on their score from the previous report or tallied consecutive perfect marks. In addition to the eight teams previously mentioned, baseball, men鈥檚 basketball, football, men鈥檚 soccer, men鈥檚 tennis and women鈥檚 rowing each increased their scores.

Wednesday鈥檚 release includes data from the 2010-11 academic year and lists the multi-year APR by sport, which averages the last four reporting years.

While the NCAA does not compile an overall department one-year average, the Knights鈥� average score for 2010-11 was 985, up 16 points. This is the seventh consecutive year the average APR score of 麻豆原创鈥檚 16 sports improved from the previous year. 麻豆原创鈥檚 overall multi-year average for the entire athletic department was 975.

Ten of 麻豆原创鈥檚 16 programs turned in multi-year averages at or above the national average for their respective sports.

鈥淭his is a tribute to the hard work of our student-athletes and to our coaches and academic support staff who create an environment for our student athletes to achieve both academically and athletically,鈥� 麻豆原创 Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. 鈥淎s educators, I believe we are developing future leaders through the intercollegiate athletics experience. Results like this serve as an indicator that is happening.鈥�

Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes Kimya Massey said the credit for the Knights鈥� academic success belongs mainly to three critical聽 groups.

鈥淚 would attribute our academic success to the amazing level of balance our student-athletes have sustained both on and off the field,鈥� Massey said. 鈥淥ur coaching staffs have invested in recruiting high-quality student-athletes, who display the character and determination to succeed academically. In addition, the academic advising staff works tirelessly to help students succeed and reach their goals both on and off the field. They are extremely selfless in their dedication to these great student-athletes.鈥�

The NCAA uses the multi-year average to track a program鈥檚 overall academic progress. The multi-year rate takes the last four reports into account.

The 麻豆原创 football program had another solid year in the classroom. The Knights posted a multi-year average of 974, which is 26 points higher than the national average. Head coach George O鈥橪eary鈥檚 team was tied for the 18th-best multi-year APR average in the nation among Football Bowl Subdivision programs. 麻豆原创 would rank in the top 10 nationally among public FBS institutions, exempting the service academies. The Knights also ranked No. 2 in Conference USA and would rank No. 3 among football programs from public institutions in the BIG EAST.

Another example of 麻豆原创鈥檚 success in the classroom was displayed by head coach Terry Rooney鈥檚 baseball team. The baseball program tallied a 986 score and came in 21 points above the national multi-year average.

None of 麻豆原创鈥檚 teams fell below the 925 multi-year threshold, where teams could be penalized by the NCAA. It is the fifth-straight year the Knights have seen each of their teams come in above the threshold.

The APR provides a 鈥渟napshot鈥� look at a team鈥檚 academic success on a yearly basis. The APR score takes into account graduation, retention and eligibility to determine a clear picture of the current academic culture of a program. The NCAA began compiling this data in 2004.

This positive news comes on the heels of the 麻豆原创 women鈥檚 tennis program earning an NCAA public recognition award for its APR. Public recognition awards are given to programs with multi-year APR totals in the top 10 percent of the nation as compared to other teams in that sport. Head coach Stephanie Nickitas鈥� women鈥檚 tennis program has now compiled a perfect 1,000 score for four-consecutive years.

Women’s tennis head coach Stephanie Nickitas was pleased with how her team played and stressed they’re constantly improving. “It was a solid win today,” Nickitas said. “We played very well in doubles which gave us momentum heading into singles play. ”

The Knights swept the Spartans in doubles matches on the day. The afternoon featured Taylor Dubins and Andrea Yacaman not allowing a game in their 8-0 win over Dana Guentert and Hilary Hager at No. 3. Teams of Jenna Doerfler and Courtney Griffith along with the duo of Genevieve Lorbergs and Alexis Rodriguez posted impressive wins, with both pairs not allowing more than three games in each of their matches.

With a 1-0 team lead, 麻豆原创 used three straight-set singles victories to seal the triumph over MSU. At No. 1, Lorbergs prevailed with a 6-2, 6-3 decision against Nicole Herzog. Meanwhile, Doerfler posted a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 3 against Marina Bohrer, and Dubins defeated Michaela Silesova at No. 4, 6-3, 6-3.

Completing the 5-2 overall team win, Rodriguez topped Olga Chernova in impressive fashion in a super tiebreaker, 6-3, 2-6, 1-0(18-16).

When asked about how her team improved in singles matches over the last few weeks, Nickitas stressed maintaining a level head and remaining poised.

“We’re playing more consistently,” Nickitas said. “The key is to remain consistent and keep our momentum going for the rest of the season.”

The Black and Gold faces No. 3 Duke on March 9 at the 麻豆原创 Tennis Complex. The match vs. the Blue Devils marks the fifth top-20 opponent in 麻豆原创’s first 12 matches of the season. Admission is free with the contest starting at 2 p.m.

Tennis Match Results

Michigan State vs 麻豆原创,聽3/2/2012 at Orlando, Fla.

麻豆原创 5, Michigan State 2

聽Singles competition

1. Genevieve Lorbergs (麻豆原创) def. Nicole Herzog (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Alexis Rodriguez (麻豆原创) def. Olga Chernova (MSU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (18-16)
3. Jenna Doerfler (麻豆原创) def. Marina Bohrer (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Taylor Dubins (麻豆原创) def. Michaela Silesova (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Katarina Lingl (MSU) def. Josephine Haraldson (麻豆原创) 6-4, 6-1
6. Dana Guentert (MSU) def. Andrea Yacaman (麻豆原创) 6-4, 3-6, 4-3, retired

聽Doubles competition

1. Genevieve Lorbergs/Alexis Rodriguez (麻豆原创) def. Nicole Herzog/Katarina Lingl (MSU) 8-2
2. Jenna Doerfler/Courtney Griffith (麻豆原创) def. Marina Bohrer/Michaela Silesova (MSU) 8-3
3. Taylor Dubins/Andrea Yacaman (麻豆原创) def. Dana Guentert/Hilary Hager (MSU) 8-0

Junior Jenny Frisell returned to action this week when she paired up with senior Katie Orletsky at the No. 1 doubles spot. The duo defeated Ashley Murdock and Marjorie Ondeck, 8-4, moving them to 4-1 on the season. Sophomore Alexis Rodriguez and freshman Jenna Doerfler captured a win over Amy Brown and Andrea Argus-Garcia, 8-5, at the No. 2 position.

Memphis native Allison Hodges took on her hometown college defeating Argus-Garcia 6-3, 7-5 at No. 5 singles. Rodriguez battled Ondeck to a third-set super tiebreaker where she came out on top, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-6). Meanwhile, Frisell, Doerfler and Orletsky each gave up five games or less in their respective singles victories.

麻豆原创 will be home once again this Wednesday to face No. 33 USF. Admission to all matches at the 麻豆原创 Tennis Complex is free.

“We are very excited about this year’s recruiting class,” said Nickitas, who just completed her second season with the Knights. “Jenna, Allison and Genevieve are very talented young athletes who can make an immediate contribution to our team’s success. All three possess a high level of dedication and commitment to both their tennis and academics. We welcome them to the Knight family.”

Pepperdine topped the list at No. 1, followed by Long Beach State and Akron. Members of C-USA that made the top 25 include Tulane (No. 7), Marshall (No. 11) and Memphis (No. 16).