Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swim and Dive sweeps MVC Weekly Awards
02/05/2019 | 11:58:00 | Swimming & Diving
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving team swept the Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Week awards. Senior Jordan Ries earned Swimmer of the Week for the first time in her SIU career and junior Beibei Ji was named Diver of the Week for the third-straight week and fourth time this season. The two athletes combined to win five events for the Salukis in a 143-100 senior day victory over Evansville.Â
In the final home meet of her Saluki career, Jordan Ries swam to first-place finishes in the 250- and 500-yard freestyle (2:29.44 & 5:16.79) against Valley opponent Evansville. She was also was a member of the SIU 100-yard freestyle relay team that took first with a time of 47.25. The native of Pekin, Ill. heads into conference season with a top-five MVC mark in the 200-yard freestyle. On the season, Ries has won the three individual events and placed in the top-three in nine. Ries is also a three-time All-MVC honoree and two-time MVC Scholar-Athlete.Â
Beibei Ji tallied scores of 300.89 in the one-meter dive and 335.25 in three-meter dive for Southern against the Aces. Her 18Â points were key in the come-from-behind victory at Shea Natatorium. Along with being the lone diver to reach the 300 plateau in both diving events, Ji's mark of 335.25 in the three-meter was a career best, beating out her previous high of 323.55 set earlier this season versus Indiana State. On the season, Ji has won a team-high 13 events and heads into conference season as the top ranked diver in the MVC.Â
Ries and Ji are back in action at the MVC Championships from Feb. 20-23 in Columbia, Mo.
Players Mentioned
