Southern Illinois University
SAINT LOUIS/MISSOURI S&T/MCKENDREE (M)
Busy weekend ahead for the Salukis
10/19/2018 | 9:16:00 | Swimming & Diving
The Southern Illinois men's and women's swimming and diving teams will be in action this Saturday against familiar faces.
The men will head to Lebanon, Ill. to compete in a quad meet at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, set to begin at 12 p.m. The Salukis will matchup against McKendree, Missouri S&T and Saint Louis.
The woman will host in-state competitors Illinois and Illinois State in a tri-meet. The meet will be held at Shea Natatorium and commence at 1 p.m.
This will be the fifth-straight year that the Saluki woman face Illinois and Illinois State in a tri-meet. Last season, Southern beat the Fighting Illini 176-135 and the Redbirds 194-106. The victory verses Illinois was the Salukis first against a power-five school since 2012, when they defeated Illinois 151.5-149.5. Against Illinois State, SIU has won three straight in dominant fashion, with an average margin of victory of 84 points.
The Fighting Illini are coming off a 168-132 victory against conference foe Michigan State, while the Redbirds were defeated 135.50-164.50 to Indiana State in their lone meet of the season.
Head coach Rick Walker is eager for his team to improve, following a rough start to the season due to injuries.
"This meet can be our opportunity to really focus on us being better," Walker said. "Illinois and Illinois State will be just as difficult but should not matter to the Saluki Spirit. This is where you dig deep and fan the flame."
Samantha Parsons and Beibei Ji are coming off strong performances for the Salukis in the season-opening meet verses McKendree. Parsons took first as a member of the 200-yard medley relay (1:48.89) and won the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke (1:07.27 and 2:23.89). Her 200-breast time currently ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
In diving, Ji collected first-place finishes in the one- and three-meter dives (298.12 and 306.22), which both top the MVC rankings. She also ranks 14th in NCAA Division I in the one-meter dive.
On the men's side, the Salukis have a combined record of 9-1 against McKendree, Missouri S&T and Saint Louis. The lone loss came against the Bearcats in the season-opening meet earlier this month.
Opponents SLU and S&T most recently competed in the Missouri Show-Me Showdown, placing sixth and seventh out of 11 teams. SLU also garnered three team wins at the Butler Duals.
Coach Walker is aware that the men's team has yet to reach full strength, but views the quad-meet as a great opportunity for improvement.
"We will be sending a small group to compete and hopefully get closer to race ready than what we showed in the previous meet," Walker said. "I am encouraged with how they have been training and the perspective they carry moving forward."
Jimmy Dooley, Kai Hoffman-Dussome and Eli Mercado delivered strong performances in their season debuts and will look to continue their success in the quad meet. Dooley was named Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving athlete of the week after winning a pair of events against McKendree. Hoffman-Dussome and Mercado are the top-ranked divers in the MAC, as Hoffman-Dussome ranks first in the three-meter and Mercado is first in the one-meter.
For all of the updates regarding Saluki Swimming and Diving follow the team on Twitter @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram @SIUSwimAndDive and on Facebook at Saluki Swimming and Diving.
Players Mentioned
