BRISTOL, Tenn. – In the second annual battle for the Blue Ridge Cup between King University and Lees-McRae College, the Tornado hold an early lead. After the completion of the fall sports, King holds a slim 4-2 lead over the Bobcats.

The Tornado took the inaugural battle a season ago, and the King women’s volleyball and cross country teams have given the Tornado an early advantage this fall. King took a pair of sweeps from the Bobcats in women’s volleyball while the Tornado women’s cross country team finished higher than Lees-McRae at the Conference Carolinas Championship, winning their second consecutive Conference Carolinas title. The men’s cross country team also finished higher than the Bobcats, taking second place at the Conference Carolinas Championship.

Lees-McRae earned a pair of points in men’s and women’s soccer as the Bobcats took both contests 2-0.

The Tornado and Bobcats share 17 varsity athletic teams which will be used to help determine an annual winner. Participating teams for both schools include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s cycling, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s volleyball, and softball. Three academic components will also be used to award a total of three points toward the standings including NCAA graduation rate, the percentage of student-athletes named to the academic all-conference team, and each school’s overall student-athlete grade point average.

A complete breakdown of past and upcoming events that will go toward the battle for the Blue Ridge Cup are provided below.