Friday, January 18
Carbondale, Ill.
2:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Indiana State University
Saluki women to face Indiana State on Friday and Little Rock on Saturday
01/17/2019 | 9:45:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving team will be in action this weekend as it hosts a pair of Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Salukis will face off against the Indiana State Sycamores in a divers-only meet on Friday at 2 p.m. and the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans at 11 a.m. in a traditional dual meet on Saturday. Both meets are set to be held at Shea Natatorium inside the SIU Student Recreation Center and admission will be free.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH RICK WALKER
On the women's team progress
We have had some really good training which I am pleased about. Our first day back in practice was one of our best this season. The key right now is to make sure that we don't come down from that training. There is going to be a little bit of that anyway, but I am hoping for a boost. We really want to keep the intensity high.
On the talent of Indiana State and Little Rock
Indiana State's diving coach (Fengtin Chen) is one of our former divers and she is doing a great job. They have a couple of talented divers, so it will be great competition for us. With Little Rock, their level and program has really accelerated since joining the MVC. Their head coach Amy Burgess has also done a great job and I think we will have our hands full. But I am looking for our ladies to step up and put up some good competition.
On possibilities of PR's or season bests
We are always looking for the absolute best, but this is one of the more difficult times to draw down and pull out PRs. However, we may be able to see a few season bests. Either way, we have to put wins in the lanes because that is how you win the meet.Â
HISTORY VERSES THE SYCAMORES AND TROJANSÂ
The Saluki women's team sits 2-0 all-time against Indiana State and most recently defeated the Sycamores 189-111 last season (1/27/18). Southern won 10 of the 16 events in the victory, with two coming from diver Beibei Ji. In the first ever matchup between the two schools (1/27/17), the Salukis came out on top 142-111.
The Salukis hold a 4-0 advantage over Little Rock. The two squads have met the past three seasons, largely in part to the Trojans becoming an MVC affiliate member in women's swimming and diving during the 2013-14 season. Southern has won the previous three meetings by an average margin of 144 points. The first meeting came during the 1994-95 season where the Salukis outlasted the Trojans 64-49.Â
CONFERENCE RANKINGS
Salukis in the MVC top-five
Beibei Ji
• 1st - Three-meter dive (316.05)
• 2nd - One-meter dive (298.12)
Baobao Ji
• 2nd - Three-meter dive (297.05)
• 3rd - One-meter dive (292.80)
Samantha ParsonsÂ
• 2nd - 200-breast (2:16.84)
Emma Brazeau
• 3rd - 200-breast (2:18.12)
• 3rd - 100-fly (54.96)
• 4th - 200-IM (2:04.48)
• 5th - 100-breast (1:04.68)
Jordan Ries
• 4th - 200-free (1:51.83)
Laura Carver
• 5th - 400-IM (4:26.29)
Audrey Snyder
• 5th - 200-fly (2:04.94)
Rita Naude
• 5th - 100-fly (55.76)
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Sycamore diver Elanor Christie has twice been named MVC Diver of the Week this season. The freshman ranks fifth in the three-meter dive (283.27) and seventh (262.20) in the one-meter dive in the MVC. Fellow freshman Keara Shelton is just two points shy of an MVC top-10 rank in the three-meter with a top score of 248.40.Â
Trojan swimmers Lindsey Butler and Imre Van Huyssteen have shined for a Little Rock team that has yet to win a dual meet this season. Butler has been Little Rocks most reliable sprinter, holding the fifth-fastest 100-yard freestyle and sixth-fastest 50-yard freestyle in the MVC. Van Huyssteen possesses top-five MVC ranks in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.33) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:9.97).Â
TRAINING IN PARADISE
The Salukis trained in Cancun, Mexico from January 2 through January 11 for their winter break training trip. The squad primarily trained at an Olympic-sized pool in Cancun, but also made a stop to practice in the Caribbean Sea for an open water session. In addition to daily practices, the team visited Chichen Itza, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and explored an underground cave formerly known as a Cenote.
Photo gallery link.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
For the latest updates on the Salukis against the Sycamores and Trojans, follow the team on Twitter @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram @SIUSwimAndDive and on Facebook at Saluki Swimming and Diving.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH RICK WALKER
On the women's team progress
We have had some really good training which I am pleased about. Our first day back in practice was one of our best this season. The key right now is to make sure that we don't come down from that training. There is going to be a little bit of that anyway, but I am hoping for a boost. We really want to keep the intensity high.
On the talent of Indiana State and Little Rock
Indiana State's diving coach (Fengtin Chen) is one of our former divers and she is doing a great job. They have a couple of talented divers, so it will be great competition for us. With Little Rock, their level and program has really accelerated since joining the MVC. Their head coach Amy Burgess has also done a great job and I think we will have our hands full. But I am looking for our ladies to step up and put up some good competition.
On possibilities of PR's or season bests
We are always looking for the absolute best, but this is one of the more difficult times to draw down and pull out PRs. However, we may be able to see a few season bests. Either way, we have to put wins in the lanes because that is how you win the meet.Â
HISTORY VERSES THE SYCAMORES AND TROJANSÂ
The Saluki women's team sits 2-0 all-time against Indiana State and most recently defeated the Sycamores 189-111 last season (1/27/18). Southern won 10 of the 16 events in the victory, with two coming from diver Beibei Ji. In the first ever matchup between the two schools (1/27/17), the Salukis came out on top 142-111.
The Salukis hold a 4-0 advantage over Little Rock. The two squads have met the past three seasons, largely in part to the Trojans becoming an MVC affiliate member in women's swimming and diving during the 2013-14 season. Southern has won the previous three meetings by an average margin of 144 points. The first meeting came during the 1994-95 season where the Salukis outlasted the Trojans 64-49.Â
CONFERENCE RANKINGS
Salukis in the MVC top-five
Beibei Ji
• 1st - Three-meter dive (316.05)
• 2nd - One-meter dive (298.12)
Baobao Ji
• 2nd - Three-meter dive (297.05)
• 3rd - One-meter dive (292.80)
Samantha ParsonsÂ
• 2nd - 200-breast (2:16.84)
Emma Brazeau
• 3rd - 200-breast (2:18.12)
• 3rd - 100-fly (54.96)
• 4th - 200-IM (2:04.48)
• 5th - 100-breast (1:04.68)
Jordan Ries
• 4th - 200-free (1:51.83)
Laura Carver
• 5th - 400-IM (4:26.29)
Audrey Snyder
• 5th - 200-fly (2:04.94)
Rita Naude
• 5th - 100-fly (55.76)
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Sycamore diver Elanor Christie has twice been named MVC Diver of the Week this season. The freshman ranks fifth in the three-meter dive (283.27) and seventh (262.20) in the one-meter dive in the MVC. Fellow freshman Keara Shelton is just two points shy of an MVC top-10 rank in the three-meter with a top score of 248.40.Â
Trojan swimmers Lindsey Butler and Imre Van Huyssteen have shined for a Little Rock team that has yet to win a dual meet this season. Butler has been Little Rocks most reliable sprinter, holding the fifth-fastest 100-yard freestyle and sixth-fastest 50-yard freestyle in the MVC. Van Huyssteen possesses top-five MVC ranks in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.33) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:9.97).Â
TRAINING IN PARADISE
The Salukis trained in Cancun, Mexico from January 2 through January 11 for their winter break training trip. The squad primarily trained at an Olympic-sized pool in Cancun, but also made a stop to practice in the Caribbean Sea for an open water session. In addition to daily practices, the team visited Chichen Itza, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and explored an underground cave formerly known as a Cenote.
Photo gallery link.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
For the latest updates on the Salukis against the Sycamores and Trojans, follow the team on Twitter @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram @SIUSwimAndDive and on Facebook at Saluki Swimming and Diving.
Players Mentioned
IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Butterfly
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