ATLANTA, Ga. (July 3, 2025) - The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup, recognizing the top men’s, women’s, and overall athletic programs in the league’s third year of competition.

This year’s awards highlight three institutions for their standout performances: Belhaven University claimed the Men’s Commissioner’s Cup, Piedmont University earned the Women’s Commissioner’s Cup, and Piedmont and Asbury University will share honors as Overall Commissioner’s Cup Co-Champions.

“The Commissioner's Cup represents the depth and dedication of our student-athletes and athletic departments across all sports,” said CCS Commissioner Beth Vansant. “We are thrilled to celebrate the continued success of our returning members and the remarkable debut by our newest institution, Asbury University. Their accomplishments speak volumes about the growth and competitive balance of our league.”

The CCS Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually based on a point system that reflects regular season standings and top four finishes in conference championship tournaments. Institutions receive four points for each conference title, three for runner-up finishes, and 1.5 for third- and fourth-place finishes. The overall award is calculated from the combined results of both men’s and women’s programs.
 
Belhaven Sweeps Men’s Cup

Belhaven captured the Men’s Commissioner’s Cup with a strong all-around performance, highlighted by a championship title in men’s soccer and a runner-up finish in baseball. The Blazers also shared the regular season men’s basketball title with Maryville and reached the top four in the tournament. Additional points came from a top four finish in the men’s tennis tournament.

"Competing for championships is half of our mission, alongside leading student-athletes to mature as men and women created in the image of God," said Belhaven's Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Little. "We are thankful to receive this award as it represents the talent and work ethic of our athletes, the leadership of our coaches and staff, and a campus community who loves and supports our students day after day. We also congratulate Asbury and Piedmont on their outstanding achievements as well." 


Piedmont Claims Women’s and Shares Overall Title
Piedmont took home the Women’s Commissioner’s Cup behind a consistent year of success. The Lions earned a championship in women’s track and field, a third-place finish in cross country, and top-four finishes in women’s soccer and softball. They dominated the tennis regular season with a 7-0 record, extending their streak to seven consecutive undefeated conference slates, and finished as the tournament runner-up. In women’s basketball, Piedmont shared the regular season title (14-2) and captured the tournament championship on their home court.

On the men’s side, Piedmont added key points with championships in men’s track and field and golf, along with runner-up finishes in cross country and tennis, contributing to their tie for the Overall Commissioner’s Cup. 
 
"I want to congratulate both Belhaven and Asbury for their accomplishments this season in the CCS.  I also want to say thank you to all our conference members for the spirited competition in our league throughout the course of this past year," said Piedmont's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Peeples. "To our coaches, student-athletes, and support staff I want them all to know how proud I am for what we have accomplished this year.  Athletics is a great tool to teach the skills of resilience and overcoming adversity.  The hard work and dedication of everyone was rewarded this season with our women earning the Commissioner's Cup and our entire department sharing the Overall Commissioner's Cup with Asbury.  This group represents Piedmont in a tremendous way by the pursuit of excellence within our department."

 
Asbury Soars to Co-Championship in Debut Season
In their first year in the CCS, Asbury University made an immediate impact. The Eagles kicked off the year with a championship in women’s cross country, followed by a volleyball regular season title and a top four tournament finish. They continued their success into the winter, sharing the regular season women’s basketball title and making a top four finish in the tournament.

Asbury’s spring season was historic, as the women’s tennis team won the conference championship after finishing second in the regular season, while the men’s tennis team swept both the regular season and tournament titles. Both squads made program history by qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

"This is a great indication of the commitment and dedication of the student-athletes and coaches at Asbury University," said Asbury's VP for Intercollegiate Athletics & University Communications Mark Whitworth. "We are honored to earn this distinction and congratulate our friends at Piedmont and Belhaven on their accomplishment. We are grateful for the opportunity to compete as a member of the CCS and look forward to working together to grow and enhance the league."