Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis set to host the MVC Swimming and Diving Championships
02/16/2016 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
| 2016 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships | |
| Dates/Times | Wed., Feb. 17 // 16 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 18 // Prelims - 11 a.m. // Finals - 6 p.m. Fri., Feb. 19 // Prelims - 11 a.m. // Finals - 6 p.m. Sat., Feb. 20 // Prelims - 10 a.m. // Finals - 4 p.m. |
| Location | Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium - Carbondale, Ill. |
| Championship Central (Live Results) | SIU MVC Championship Central Official MVC Championship Central |
| Season Stats | SIU Performance Lists |
| Media Guide | SIU 2015-16 Media Guide |
| Record Book | SIU Swimming & Diving Record Book |
| Social Media | @SIU_SwimDive | Saluki Swimming and Diving |
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Saluki women's swimming and diving team is set for its most significant meet of the season, the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, beginning on Wednesday. SIU will host the meet at Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium in the SIU Rec Center for the 26th year.
SIU enters this week's championships selected second in the MVC Pre-Championship poll with 31 votes, just four shy of last year's MVC champion, Missouri State. The Salukis currently hold an undefeated record against conference opponents this season, with two blowout wins over Evansville bookending the Salukis' season, and wins over Missouri State and Illinois State as well. Only nine points separated the Salukis from the Missouri State Bears in their dual meet in October, furthering the rivalry that will be on display at this week's championships.
"I don't know that being undefeated in conference gives us an edge physically against another team, but I think mentally it helps knowing that a Missouri State can be beaten, an Illinois State can be beaten, the other teams can be beaten," SIU head coach Rick Walker said. "It's not like we're going to have to do something we've never done before, because we've done it before. We just have to put it together."
Southern's women have made significant strides this season, with event wins over ranked opponents like Missouri and Kentucky, along with season-bests against tough competitors at the mid-season meet, the Purdue Invitational. Sophomores Bryn Handley and Kelsie Walker have ranked in the national top-100 throughout the season, with both currently posting times that rank in the top-50.
Heading into the conference championship, SIU ranks in the top-five in nearly every event in the MVC. The Salukis hold the top spot in eight different events, with 12 athletes making the top-five mark.
McKenna Avery, Bryn Handley, Kelsie Walker and Helena Amorim hold the highest marks for SIU in freestyle, with a top-five appearance by Lauren Stockton in the 1650 freestyle as well. Reigning MVC champion Sarah James is SIU's leading backstroke swimmer, while Liane Tatigian leads the Dawgs in breaststroke. Saluki newcomer Emma Brazeau has made a name for herself in the conference this season with three top-five times, plus MVC Swimmer of the Week recognition following SIU's last meet.
SIU has continued to dominate on the boards as well with seasoned diver Kaixuan 'Sherry' Zhang leading the Salukis to victory. Zhang has gone undefeated in one-meter dives this season, posting scores as high as 370.20 at SIU's last meet. A second-place finish at Purdue broke her undefeated streak in three-meter dives, but the senior has seven first place finishes to her name this season.
"One of the things as a team that we've done very well is just focus and pay attention to what we are doing, because that's what we can control. We can't control anybody else," Walker said. "We're a very good team, and we're a much better team when we just tend to our own business, and when we do that and do it well we are a formidable team."
Last year the Salukis came away from the MVC Championships with one of the team's best finishes, ending in second place for the first time in seven years. Individually, SIU earned six event titles in 2015. Kaixuan 'Sherry' Zhang won both the one- and three-meter dives, breaking school, pool and MVC Championship records with her top finish, ultimately earning her MVC Diver of the Year accolades. Sarah James and Kelsie Walker both earned MVC titles in the 100-yard backstroke and the 1650-yard freestyle, respectively. Finally, SIU finished with two relay championship titles, winning the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays for school, pool and MVC Championship records in both.
This year SIU is looking to repeat last year's success and to improve even more.
"Coming into a championship meet you want to make sure that you do everything that you've practiced, but when you put in other teams you have to hope sometimes that things will fall into place that benefit us more than it does your opponent," Walker said. "Our goal is always to win it, that's what we're here for, but the smaller goals are to do everything it takes to win it."
The MVC Swimming and Diving Championships are set to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday with the 200-yard medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. Preliminary races will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday and Friday followed by finals at 6 p.m. each night. Saturday's prelims will begin at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 4 p.m.
A full schedule of events and results from all four days of the MVC Championships can be found on SIU's Championship Central page. Event results will be posted in real-time, along with photo galleries and complete results at the conclusion of each day. Follow along with @SIU_SwimDive on Twitter for updates throughout the weekend.
Players Mentioned
