Emory began 2003 with a 7-0 record, tying the best start in school history, before dropping its first two games of the calendar year. The only other Eagle squad with a 7-0 start is the 1988–89 team that went on to win the first of back-to-back conference titles. The most exciting win, 82-81, was against perennial contender Maryville (Tenn.), in which Emory trailed with 1.4 seconds left but completed a length-of-the-court pass to set up a layup at the buzzer. Newcomer Clayton Fuller was named to the NCAA Division III Team of the Week by d3hoops.com in mid-December.

Basketball (women)
Emory ended the calendar year with a 4-1 record, its best start since the 1997–98 season. Its only loss—to University of the South (Tenn.), 69-67—was on a last-second three-pointer. Lending further optimism is the fact that the 15-player roster features 10 freshmen. Off the court, Emory made news for its academic success; the team was honored on the Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll compiled by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Emory had a 3.40 grade point average last season, 16th highest in the nation among Div. III schools.

Swimming & diving (men)
Emory ended the fall semester with a bang at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational, where the Eagles posted 48 NCAA national qualifying performances. Emory placed seventh out of 13 teams, finishing behind four Div. I schools. Jeff Klug accounted for six qualifying times, including two in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events. Klug was selected the national Div. III Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com. In all, the team had 12 automatic qualifying times for the NCAA national meet and 36 provisional qualifying times.

Swimming & diving (women)
Also at the Miami Invitational, the Emory women attained 78 NCAA national qualifying performances and finished fifth out of 14 teams (behind three Div. I schools). Liz Shields accounted for nine qualifying times for the Div. III nationals, breaking four school records in the process. Shields was selected the national Swimmer of the Week for Div. III by CollegeSwimming.com. In all, the team had 19 automatic qualifying times for the NCAA national meet and 59 provisional qualifying times.

Fall recap
Four of the five Emory fall varsity teams qualified or were selected for their respective NCAA national tournaments. The volleyball team reached the round of 16 to finish with a 33-9 record. The women’s soccer team made it to the round of 32 to end with a 14-4-2 mark. The women’s cross country team placed 18th and the men’s team 23rd at the NCAA national championships. Heading into spring semester, Emory stands 10th in the national standings for best all-around athletics program in Div. III.

Honors
Both Emory soccer teams have been honored with Team Academic Awards from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. This is the sixth consecutive year that both Emory teams have received this award. The award is presented to those teams with 3.0 or better cumulative grade point averages for the past school year. The Emory men had the second-highest GPA (3.43) in the nation among all NCAA divisions, and the Emory women had the ninth-highest GPA (3.53) in the nation among all honored women’s teams.

For the latest on Emory varsity athletics, visit www.go.emory.edu.