WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Despite dealing with the challenges of the pandemic and the postponement or cancellation of all fall and winter sports, West Liberty University's student-athletes extended an impressive streak of academic success.
    The 488 student-athletes from WLU's 18 intercollegiate sports posted a combined 3.14 GPA for the 2020-21 fall semester – the fifth consecutive semester the department has exceeded the 3.00 mark as a group. In all, 15 of the 18 teams – including all nine women's squads – checked in at 3.00 or higher for the semester.
    "I commend our student-athletes for continuing to achieve at the highest level of proficiency semester after semester and year after year," athletic director Lynn Ullom said. "I was especially impressed by their performance this semester in light of the unavoidable disruptions resulting from the pandemic.
    "I also want to express my appreciation for the continued commitment of our coaches and faculty to join together in support of our student-athletes. That teamwork, that determination to work in unison toward a shared goal is what makes West Liberty such a special place."
    Seventeen of the 18 sports had multiple teammates achieve perfect 4.00 GPAs for the semester. Three teams had every member achieve a 3.00 or higher GPA with two other squad falling just one player shy of a 3.00 sweep.
    A record 98 West Liberty student-athletes turned in 4.00 GPAs in the fall with 322 of the 488 team members reaching or exceeding the 3.00 mark – also an all-time high. In addition, more than 200 Hilltoppers achieved at an impressive 3.50 or greater GPA clip.
    The women's volleyball team led the way with a department-high 3.85 combined GPA for the fall. All 15 volleyball players surpassed the 3.00 mark with 14 of them checking in at 3.50 or better and eight notching perfect 4.00 GPAs.
    Women's tennis was a close second at 3.83. All nine netters easily blew past the 3.00 standard with eight of them at 3.50 or better and four hitting the 4.00 mark.
    The men's tennis squad had the highest GPA of the Hilltopper men's teams. Six of the seven men's tennis players hit the 3.00 mark with five of them posting perfect 4.00 GPAs.
    Other team highlights from the fall semester grade report included:
    – Women's basketball with a team GPA of 3.65 and all 12 players at 3.00 or higher
    – Women's softball with a team GPA of 3.52 GPA plus the most student-athletes (24) at 3.50 or higher and the most (12) with 4.00 GPAs
    – Women's soccer with a 3.53 team GPA and 27 of 30 players at 3.00 or higher, including 11 with 4.00 GPAs
    – Women's track with a 3.67 team GPA and 25 of 29 athletes at 3.00 or higher, including 10 with 4.00 GPAs
    – Men's basketball with a 3.39 team GPA and 12 of 14 players at 3.00 or higher, including seven at 3.50 or better