Southern Illinois University
Valparaiso/Little Rock (Women)
Swimming and Diving to face Valpo and Little Rock on Friday
03/11/2021 | 4:15:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In the first tri-meet of the season, the Saluki Swimming and Diving program are set to face off Valparaiso and the women of Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, March 12 at 2pm inside Shea Natatorium. The meet will be streamed via SIU's Student Recreation Center's Facebook page, and live times will be available on the Meet Mobile app.
SIU-VALPARAISO / LITTLE ROCK HISTORY
Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference (women) in 2017, Valparaiso has met the Salukis once, in tri-meet action against SIU and Bellarmine in 2019 where the Salukis became victorious: the men defeating the Brown and Gold 213-48 and the women earning 206.5 to Valpo's 54.5. The men's team points were led by a third place finish by freshman Brian Daniels in the 1000 freestyle (10:09.12) and a top-three performance by sophomore Derek Eidson in the 100-freestyle (48.33). The women garnered points led by the 200-freestyle relay team, placing second with a time of 1:41.71.
Little Rock has seen the Saluki women since 1994, with SIU holding the six-win advantage. Last season, the Salukis swam past the Trojans in Little Rock, 177-66 in team tallies. The Trojans saw personal bests in freestyle events, while taking second place in both relays. Sophomore Fer Moussier came into the wall second in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:07.43, just .07 behind the Saluki finisher.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Valparaiso's men finished in sixth place in the Summit League Championships, rounding out 244 team points, with two individual broken school records, one relay record, and a top-five finals finish. In dual meet action, the Brown and Gold finished 2019-20, 3-6, with wins against Youngstown State, Western Illinois, and Bethel. The men have currently dropped to Rose-Hulman and Evansville this season. Valpo's women sought eighth place at the MVC Championships in Columbia, Mo. The women produced multiple Brown and Gold records and a team-best eighth place finish in the 400-freestyle relay. In 2021, Valpo is 1-3 in dual-meets, with the sole win occurring at the start of their season against Rose-Hulman.
With a canceled meet in January against Arkansas, Little Rock started their 2021 campaign with a win in the pool against Ouachita Baptist, 173-72, sweeping the win in every event and seeking multiple personal bests. In 2020, Little Rock finished their season 0-5 in dual-meets, while split in both tri-meets. The Trojans wrapped up the season in seventh place at the Missouri Valley Championships, with the best Little Rock event being the 100-freestyle with a sixth place finals finish by sophomore Carolyn Godwin.
LAST TIME OUT
After a dramatic win against Missouri State for the first time 2006, neck-and-neck with 176-173 points, the Saluki men are now 2-1 on the season, earning a win in the pool against Evansville 134-80 on Feb. 12 with individual wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle (21.00 and 46.69) by freshman Marc Avery, but fell to MAC opponent Ball State with 12 men on the road on Feb. 20 -- which resulted in two new pool records in Muncie from sophomore Adam Cernek in the 100 and 200 backstroke (50.12 and 1:49.89). The team win against Missouri State drew wins in both relays on day two, with multiple personal records set individually by the men.
The women's team is an even .500 in 2021, drawing a win against Evansville on Feb. 12, 130-94 and edged by Missouri State last weekend, 153-195 inside Shea Natatorium. So far for the women, three school records have been broken for SIU. Current MVC Swimmer of the Week, freshman Mima Zaborska owns the 100 and 200 breaststroke titles, while also being a member of the title-holding 200-medley relay squad, along with Lucia Romero, Imogen Watson, and Sierra Forbord.
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Players Mentioned
