VERMILLION, S.D. -- Joel Nielsen, director of athletics at The University of South Dakota, announced today that USD's 340 student-athletes posted a collective grade point average of 3.22 in the spring 2008 semester.

Of the 17 NCAA sports that South Dakota sponsors, 15 of them had a team GPA greater than 3.0. All 10 USD women's programs had a 3.0 or above semester GPA. The NCAA Division II national champion runner-up women's basketball team recorded the highest mark in the spring with a 3.63 GPA. It is the second semester they had the department's top GPA, as they recorded a 3.74 mark in the fall.

USD's 10 women's teams combined for a 3.40 GPA while the seven men's sports produced a 3.01 mark.

The U had 64 percent of its student-athletes finish the semester with a GPA of 3.0 or better. A total of 220 Coyote athletes had a 3.0 or above grade point average, including 31 who had a 4.0 mark in the spring. Of those 31 student-athletes that had a 4.0 in the semester, six of them maintain a cumulative 4.0 GPA.

"Our student-athletes take great pride in their academic success and their efforts are supported by an outstanding faculty and staff," said Nielsen. "These successes could not be attained without the dedication of Dave Lorenz in the academic advising office at The U."

Five men's sports posted a team GPA above 3.0 in the spring. The Coyote men's basketball team had a 3.26 GPA as 12 of the 17 members of the 2007-08 squad had a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Over 50 percent of the USD football team had a 3.0 grade point average. Frank Leibfarth, who earned a multitude of academic and athletic awards in four years at The U, finished his career with a 4.0 this past semester and a 3.95 cumulative GPA.

"Coyote student-athletes have shown a desire to succeed academically and the grade point averages are a reflection of their hard work," said David Lorenz, coordinator of athletic academic advising. "This achievement is also a tribute to the coaches who support and encourage them."

The women's soccer team again notched the best cumulative GPA with a 3.50 mark, as 13 teams had cumulative GPAs 3.0 or above. USD has 190 student-athletes that maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA.

The University of South Dakota will begin its first year of transition to NCAA Division I in 2008-09.