KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eastern Oregon University had seven athletic teams named NAIA Scholar-Teams. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the annual academic honor list Tuesday.

The Mountaineer women's Indoor Track and Field team had the highest grade point average for the EOU programs with a 3.48 GPA. Eastern's men's basketball team was the lone men's sport to receive the honor.

Iowa Wesleyan's volleyball team finished in the top spot with a 3.82 grade point average during the 2009-10 academic year. A record total of 857 teams, an increase over last year's total of 837, received the award.

Joining Iowa Wesleyan to round out the top five are Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) volleyball (3.81 GPA), Lambuth (Tenn.) women's soccer (3.78 GPA), Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) women's tennis (3.77 GPA) and tied for fifth with a 3.76 GPA is Jamestown (N.D.) women's cross country and Bethel (Kan.) women's tennis.

Biola (Calif.) and Hastings (Neb.) had the most teams represented by a school (16).
Women's basketball landed in the top spot for total number of scholar teams per sport
(78) earning the honor.

Over 14% of the schools receiving the award had a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum
3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average must include all varsity student-athletes certified as eligible.

Women's Indoor Track and Field - 3.48
Volleyball - 3.42
Women's Basketball - 3.40
Soccer - 3.30
Women's Outdoor Track and Field - 3.25
Women's Cross Country - 3.05
Men's Basketball - 3.04