Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swimming and Diving picked third in MVC Championship poll
02/14/2011 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 14, 2011
SIUSalukis.com
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving team has been picked to finish third for the second year in a row at the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship Feb. 17-19 in Carbondale, Ill.
In a unanimous vote, Missouri State has been named as the pre-championship favorite once again, as it pursues its fourth-consecutive team title at the conference championship.
The Bears, who took home the title in 2010 by a 275.5 point win margin, are the favorites going into this year's championships by a five point margin over Illinois State, who received all of the second-place votes (20 points). Southern Illinois was picked third with 15 points.
Evansville, with 10 points, and Northern Iowa, five points, round out the poll.
SIU's Kirsten Groome, the 2010 MVC Swimmer of the Year, returns to the championships this year as a sophomore. Last year, she broke three school and conference records in addition to setting two new pool records. Groome, a three-time MVC Swimmer of the Week, has recorded over 13 first-place times this season and currently holds the league's top time in the 1,000 free.
This marks the 17th year that SIU will host the three-day event at its own Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium in the Student Recreation Center. The competition kicks off with preliminaries on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. For more information on the 2011 State Farm MVC Championship, visit the tournament central page.
MVC Pre-Championship Poll
1. Missouri State (25)
2. Illinois State (20)
3. Southern Illinois (15)
4. Evansville (10)
5. Northern Iowa (5)
Players Mentioned
