Women's water polo banner helps fuel strong fall season and NATYCAA Cup lead for Sierra; Defending champ Mt. SAC a close second

Complete CCCAA/NATYCAA Cup Standings (PDF format) l NATYCAA State Association's Division standings

SACRAMENTO - Sierra College won its first women's water polo state championship this past fall, providing a memorable moment for the Wolverine's athletics program. Now, thanks to strong showings in seven other men's and women's programs during the fall, the Northern California powerhouse from Rocklin hopes it leads to another memorable moment later this year after taking the early CCCAA lead in the NATYCAA Cup Standings.

The NATYCAA Cup - administered by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators - is a competition among CCCAA schools, rewarding excellence in postseason competition to determine the most successful athletics program over the course of the athletics year. Schools are awarded points based upon their finishes in the CCCAA's 24 championships. Twenty points are awarded to each state champion with points given to as many as 20 teams, depending on the championship. The top five men's and top women's scores from each school are counted toward its overall total.

Sierra scored 68 points among five women's teams and 32 across three men's programs for a total of 100 points and a seven-point lead over six-time defending champion Mt. San Antonio College (93 points), which highlighted its fall with its second straight women's cross country title. Fresno City won its third straight wrestling banner and advanced to the women's volleyball championship match, helping it total 87 points and sit in third.

Cerritos (74.5), Riverside City (72.5), American River (71.5), West Valley (63.0), El Camino (58.0), Hartnell (52.0) and San Joaquin Delta (50.0) round out the CCCAA's top 10 after the 12 fall championships. Twelve winter and spring banners - beginning with men's and women's basketball in March - are on the line to determine the 2018-19 NATYCAA Cup champion for the CCCAA. A total of 71 schools have tallied points so far.

NATYCAA conducts three other races, including the State Associations Division which includes CCCAA schools and the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). Sierra College leads that competition as well. In fact, the top seven CCCAA schools currently sit in the same positions in the State Associations Division standings.

The NATYCAA champion will be announced in June.