Southern Illinois University
Illinois/Illinois State (W)
Women's swimming and diving falls at home to Illinois and Illinois State
10/20/2018 | 7:26:00 | Swimming & Diving
In a meet filled with close races, the Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving team fell at home to Illinois, 105-195, and Illinois State, 143-157, at Shea Natatorium on Saturday. The meet was Southern's second home meet of the season and last until December 1st, when the Salukis host Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State.
Despite the losses, head coach Rick Walker saw positive elements from the Salukis.
"We are still working out the kinks with some of our women," said Walker. "I am encouraged, not by the loss, but by the team's engagement throughout the meet. That was probably the one thing we lacked against McKendree. I still have high hopes for this group and I think they are starting to see just what it is they are fighting for."
Southern was led by divers Baobao Ji and Beibei Ji who won two events and took second in two others.
Baobao won the one-meter dive with a score of 292.80, holding off twin sister Beibei (289.55) who finished in second place, well ahead of the Fighting Illini and Redbird divers.
Beibei went on to score 316.05 in the three-meter dive to take first, ahead of Baobao (297.05) who placed second.
In swim action, Deven Speed, Samantha Parsons, Emma Brazeau and Rita Naude got the Salukis rolling with a third-place finish in the 200-yard medley (1:49.75), in a field of 10 relay teams.
Jordan Ries, Laura Carver and Brazeau led the way individually for the Salukis in the pool.
Ries swam 1:55.43 in the 200-yard freestyle to place second, finishing .53 seconds behind Illinois winner, Abby Cabush. She also finished third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:11.49) to cap off a successful meet.
Carver placed in top-five in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard IM for the Salukis. Her best finish came in the 400 IM (4:32.20), where she took second.
In addition to being a part of the third-place 200-medley relay team, Brazeau took second in the 100-yard butterfly (57.66) and fell .03 seconds short of second in the 100-yard backstroke (59.17).
Next up: The Salukis will compete in the Missouri Invite from Nov. 15-17 in Columbia, Mo.
Players Mentioned
