TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology athletic department earned a strong second-place finish in the 2006-07 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup standings, in results released today.

The Commissioner's Cup is awarded to the institution accumulating the most standings points in the HCAC's 19 league championship events.  Anderson University won the 2006-07 Commissioner's Cup with 92.5 points, followed by Rose-Hulman at 92.

Manchester College placed third in the standings with 90 points, followed by Franklin (86) and Transylvania (82).

"I think it's a testament to the quality of our coaching staff and student-athletes that we came within one-half point of winning the Commissioner's Cup in our first season in the league.  We are proud to have accomplished so much as a department this year," said Rose-Hulman athletic director Jeff Jenkins.

Sam Danesis -- HCAC MVP for 2nd place women's tennis.

Second-place teams this season included women's basketball, women's cross country, men's soccer, men's track and field, and women's tennis.  The Engineers also tallied third-place finishes in women's soccer and women's track and field to help achieve the team score of 92.

Individually, four Rose-Hulman student-athletes earned HCAC Most Valuable Player honors in 2006-07.  Senior Yaw Aning (men's soccer), junior Janel Belton (Field Events for track and field), freshman Sam Danesis (women's tennis) and senior Ryan Schipper (Field Events for track and field) were chosen as the top player in their respective sport by league coaches.