Saturday, February 17
Iowa City, Iowa
TBA
Southern Illinois University
vs
MVC Swimming & Diving Championship (WOMEN)
Salukis finish 2nd at MVC Champs, Baobao Ji wins the three-meter dive
02/17/2018 | 9:55:00 | Swimming & Diving
The Salukis closed out the MVC Championships on Saturday with a second-place finish in the meet. The Salukis logged six more All-Conference selections in the meet and another individual Conference Championship.
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Missouri State won their second-straight team championship with a score of 832.5, Southern was second with a score of 649 and Northern Iowa with third with a team score of 615. Southern has finished second or better for the last five years.
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In three-meter diving, Sophomore Baobao Ji clinched a sweep for SIU in the two diving events of the week. Ji won the three-meter with a score of 300.12 in the championship finals. Beibei Ji, who won the one-meter dive earlier this week was second with a score of 291.27. Senior Rachel Williams was fifth with a score of 256.08 in the finals.
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Southern's diver's performance earned diving coach Joy Zhao the 2018 Diving Coach of the Year honor. It is the fifth time of her career she has won the award. Baobao Ji capped off her Conference Championship by being named the MVC Diver of the Year. It's the first time a Saluki has earned the honor since Sherry Zheng did so at the 2015-16 MVC Championships.
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In the 1,650-yard freestyle, senior Bryn Handley earned her third All-Conference honor of the meet when she was second behind Missouri State's Liberty Howell with a time of 16:47.48. Senior Kelsie Walker was sixth with a time of 17:03.23.
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In the 200-yard breaststroke, the Salukis had their best overall performance of the evening. Sophomore Samantha Parsons was second with a time of 2:15.50 in the event, earning her an All-Conference selection and an NCAA B Cut time. It was the second-fastest time in school history. Parsons now owns the top-two times in program history in the event. Junior Emma Brazeau was fourth. Junior Abby Kresal was seventh and sophomore Laura Carver was eighth. In the consolation finals, Liane Tatigian was second and 10th overall.
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In the 200-yard butterfly, sophomore Audrey Snyder placed fifth with a time of 2:02.53, the fifth-fastest time in program history.
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Senior McKenna Avery was sixth in the 100-yard freestyle finals with a time of 51.05. Senior Chandler Ott was 15th with a time of 53.14.
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In the 200-yard backstroke, sophomore Juliana Carvalho was second in the consolation finals and finished 10th overall with a time of 2:04.43
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In the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Southern's team of Avery, Ott, sophomore Rita Naude and Handley placed fourth with a time of 3:26.71.
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On top of the eight Salukis who earned first team All-Conference honors, 11 more were named to Honorable Mention All-Conference honorees. They were: Brazeau, Carver, senior Nicole Fuller, Parman, sophomore Jess Peck, Senior Jordan Ries, Walker, Williams, freshman Abbie Young, Kresal and Snyder.
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The end of the MVC Championships marks the end of the season for the majority of the Saluki women's swimming and diving team. Baobao, Beibei and Williams will all compete at the NCAA Zones March 8-10. The men's team will compete at the MAC Swimming and Diving Championships Feb 29 to March 3.
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Missouri State won their second-straight team championship with a score of 832.5, Southern was second with a score of 649 and Northern Iowa with third with a team score of 615. Southern has finished second or better for the last five years.
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In three-meter diving, Sophomore Baobao Ji clinched a sweep for SIU in the two diving events of the week. Ji won the three-meter with a score of 300.12 in the championship finals. Beibei Ji, who won the one-meter dive earlier this week was second with a score of 291.27. Senior Rachel Williams was fifth with a score of 256.08 in the finals.
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Southern's diver's performance earned diving coach Joy Zhao the 2018 Diving Coach of the Year honor. It is the fifth time of her career she has won the award. Baobao Ji capped off her Conference Championship by being named the MVC Diver of the Year. It's the first time a Saluki has earned the honor since Sherry Zheng did so at the 2015-16 MVC Championships.
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In the 1,650-yard freestyle, senior Bryn Handley earned her third All-Conference honor of the meet when she was second behind Missouri State's Liberty Howell with a time of 16:47.48. Senior Kelsie Walker was sixth with a time of 17:03.23.
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In the 200-yard breaststroke, the Salukis had their best overall performance of the evening. Sophomore Samantha Parsons was second with a time of 2:15.50 in the event, earning her an All-Conference selection and an NCAA B Cut time. It was the second-fastest time in school history. Parsons now owns the top-two times in program history in the event. Junior Emma Brazeau was fourth. Junior Abby Kresal was seventh and sophomore Laura Carver was eighth. In the consolation finals, Liane Tatigian was second and 10th overall.
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In the 200-yard butterfly, sophomore Audrey Snyder placed fifth with a time of 2:02.53, the fifth-fastest time in program history.
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Senior McKenna Avery was sixth in the 100-yard freestyle finals with a time of 51.05. Senior Chandler Ott was 15th with a time of 53.14.
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In the 200-yard backstroke, sophomore Juliana Carvalho was second in the consolation finals and finished 10th overall with a time of 2:04.43
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In the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Southern's team of Avery, Ott, sophomore Rita Naude and Handley placed fourth with a time of 3:26.71.
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On top of the eight Salukis who earned first team All-Conference honors, 11 more were named to Honorable Mention All-Conference honorees. They were: Brazeau, Carver, senior Nicole Fuller, Parman, sophomore Jess Peck, Senior Jordan Ries, Walker, Williams, freshman Abbie Young, Kresal and Snyder.
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The end of the MVC Championships marks the end of the season for the majority of the Saluki women's swimming and diving team. Baobao, Beibei and Williams will all compete at the NCAA Zones March 8-10. The men's team will compete at the MAC Swimming and Diving Championships Feb 29 to March 3.
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Players Mentioned
Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
/ Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Butterfly
/ Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
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