Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis sweep MVC Weekly Awards for second time in 2017-18
01/30/2018 | 10:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
For the second time this season, the Salukis swept the Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Week Awards after a dominating performance over Indiana State on Saturday.
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Senior Bryn Handley and sophomore Beibei Ji earned the awards following their combined four event wins in the dual meet between MVC foes. It was Handley's fourth time earning the award this season and Ji's fourth time earning the Diver of the Week title. The Salukis last swept the MVC's weekly awards on Oct. 31 when Handley and sophomore Diver Baobao Ji both took the titles.
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Handley led the Salukis in their home meet against State. Handley won both of her events that she swam in as an individual and helped her relay team to a second-place finish. In the 1,000-yard freestyle, Handley finished first by nearly 20 seconds with a time of 10:10.86. Handley also picked up a win in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:02.79. She won the 500-yard freestyle by a margin of nearly six seconds. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Handley led off for her team and helped the team to a second-place finish. Her relay team was less than three-tenths of a second behind the winning relay team from Indiana State. In total, Handley earned 22 points for the Salukis in the dual meet.
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As for Beibei Ji, she dominated the diving events against Indiana State. In the one-meter dive, Beibei Ji set a new personal best with a score of 310.95 to earn the victory in the event. In the three-meter dive, Ji was first with a score of 304.58. Her performance was good enough to win the three-meter dive by more than 11 points. In total, Ji earned 18 points towards the Salukis team score in the meet.
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In total, the Saluki women have earned MVC weekly honors 10 times this season, six more than Missouri State, who has the fourth most in the conference. Between the men's and women's teams, The Salukis have earned MVC and Mid-American Conference weekly awards 13 times in the 2017-18 season. Saluki divers have earned Diver of the Week awards six times this season, four more than Illinois State which sits in second with two. Southern and Missouri State are tied with the Conference lead for Swimmer of the Week awards with four a piece. Only one other Valley program has swept the weekly awards this year, Northern Iowa did so on Oct. 17 when Molly Lembezeder was named the Swimmer of the Week and Izzy Bunchek was the Diver of the Week.
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The Salukis are back in action on Saturday when the team hosts Evansville for senior day at 11 a.m.
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Senior Bryn Handley and sophomore Beibei Ji earned the awards following their combined four event wins in the dual meet between MVC foes. It was Handley's fourth time earning the award this season and Ji's fourth time earning the Diver of the Week title. The Salukis last swept the MVC's weekly awards on Oct. 31 when Handley and sophomore Diver Baobao Ji both took the titles.
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Handley led the Salukis in their home meet against State. Handley won both of her events that she swam in as an individual and helped her relay team to a second-place finish. In the 1,000-yard freestyle, Handley finished first by nearly 20 seconds with a time of 10:10.86. Handley also picked up a win in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:02.79. She won the 500-yard freestyle by a margin of nearly six seconds. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Handley led off for her team and helped the team to a second-place finish. Her relay team was less than three-tenths of a second behind the winning relay team from Indiana State. In total, Handley earned 22 points for the Salukis in the dual meet.
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As for Beibei Ji, she dominated the diving events against Indiana State. In the one-meter dive, Beibei Ji set a new personal best with a score of 310.95 to earn the victory in the event. In the three-meter dive, Ji was first with a score of 304.58. Her performance was good enough to win the three-meter dive by more than 11 points. In total, Ji earned 18 points towards the Salukis team score in the meet.
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In total, the Saluki women have earned MVC weekly honors 10 times this season, six more than Missouri State, who has the fourth most in the conference. Between the men's and women's teams, The Salukis have earned MVC and Mid-American Conference weekly awards 13 times in the 2017-18 season. Saluki divers have earned Diver of the Week awards six times this season, four more than Illinois State which sits in second with two. Southern and Missouri State are tied with the Conference lead for Swimmer of the Week awards with four a piece. Only one other Valley program has swept the weekly awards this year, Northern Iowa did so on Oct. 17 when Molly Lembezeder was named the Swimmer of the Week and Izzy Bunchek was the Diver of the Week.
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The Salukis are back in action on Saturday when the team hosts Evansville for senior day at 11 a.m.
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Players Mentioned
Freestyle
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Diving
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