MVNU, which has finished fifth, sixth, and eighth in the previous three years, had its best showing so far by finishing in third place in the ranking of NAIA teams with a team grade point average of 3.498 for the 2007-2008 school year. In fact, nine of the 16 players on the Lady Cougars’ roster posted a 3.500 or higher including Kylie Rupert and Colleen Potter, who each had a perfect 4.000.

"This is a great honor for our program and our school,” said MVNU coach Jeana Howald. "We stress the importance of being successful in the classroom while also trying to be the best softball player you can be. This award is a credit to our players and the diligent efforts that they make in the classroom despite playing a sport that requires them to miss numerous classes throughout the semester due to playing afternoon games. This award is a great way to wrap up the success that we had on the field and in the classroom last year.”

The Lady Cougars finished the 2008 campaign with a 26-20 overall record and advanced to the championship game of the NAIA Region IX Tournament for the first time in school history where they fell 4-3 to Walsh University.