LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV Athletics had a department-best 92 student-athletes earn the 2019-20 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award, the Conference announced Tuesday. The previous high was 73, which was set last year (2018-19).
 
Delving deeper, UNLV has upped its MW Scholar-Athlete Award recipients by 39 in just a two-year period, dating back to the 2017-18 campaign (53).
 
Seven programs set records, with baseball (14 representatives), women's soccer (13), track & field (nine), cross country (seven), women's basketball (five), women's tennis (five), and men's basketball (three) surpassing former benchmarks. Football had four earn the award to tie the program's highest output (2013-14 and 2014-15).
 
Additionally, women's swimming & diving had 11 student-athletes claim the award, while volleyball (seven), softball (six), women's golf (five), men's tennis (two) and men's golf (one) rounded out the Rebel sports sponsored by the MW.
 
Overall, a conference-record 1,023 student-athletes were named MW Scholar-Athletes, including 150 individuals who achieved a 4.0 or higher cumulative GPA over two or more terms. The previous league record of 867 was set in 2018-19.
 
The MW Scholar-Athlete Award is one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the Conference. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution, while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better, and have participated in varsity competition in a MW-sponsored sport.
 
Yesterday, it was announced that UNLV had a total of 163 student-athletes – a department-best – earn Academic All-MW Team honors this year: 54 for Fall 2019 and 109 for Spring 2020.