STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO — Not only is the University at Buffalo men’s tennis team a champion on the court, it is also a champion in the classroom as the 2017 Mid-American Conference Champions were honored with a NCAA Public Recognition Award for outstanding academic performance. This is the second time, and second straight year, the Bulls have earned this recognition under head coach Lee Nickell.
“I’m very proud of our team,” Nickell said. “Our success in the classroom is all due to our academic services and Kelly Cruttenden and Erik Silis in compliance. It’s the support staff that has really gotten them through and it’s something our whole athletic department should be proud of.”
Teams are recognized by the NCAA for posting Academic Progress Rate scores that are in the top 10 percent of its individual sport for the 2015-16 academic year. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally.
All Division I teams’ APR scores will be released at a later date. All teams must meet a certain academic threshold to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport.
Buffalo went a perfect 7-0 in Mid-American Conference play and defeated Western Michigan to win the 2017 MAC Championship. It was the Bulls’ second conference title in the last three seasons. UB will face Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 12.
