Southern Illinois University
Indiana State/Ball State (Women)
Saluki Women to end Regular Season with series of Tri-Meets
03/25/2021 | 3:05:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In the final weekend of swimming for the Saluki women's swimming and diving program, SIU travels to Terre Haute, Indiana to meet Indiana State and Ball State in tri-meet action on Friday, March 26 at 1pm Eastern. Due to a scheduling conflict, the previous away meet in Valparaiso, Indiana has been moved to Shea Natatorium, where the women will compete against MVC opponent, Valparaiso with Eastern Illinois on Saturday, March 27 at 2pm. The meet will be streamed via the SIU Student Recreation Center's Facebook and live times are available on Meet Mobile.
SIU-INDIANA STATE / BALL STATE HISTORY
The women have met the Sycamores since 1980, holding the 5-1 series record. From the 2020 MVC Championships, SIU last saw Indiana State in a dual in January 2020, where the Salukis overtook the Sycamores, 165-135, winning eight individual events and taking both relays inside Shea Natatorium.
SIU has dropped twice to Mid-American Conference member Ball State since 2012. The last match up between the two was in another tri-meet with Indiana State in 2019, Southern fell 108.5-191.5 to the Cardinals, while winning both diving events and the 100- and 200-butterfly races.
SIU-VALPO / EASTERN ILLINOIS HISTORY
SIU saw the Brown and Gold of Valparaiso on March 12 at home, the Salukis out-swam Valpo, 223-47, in a tri-meet with Arkansas-Little Rock, bringing the series record 2-0 in the Salukis favor since Valparaiso joined the Missouri Valley. The Dawgs took every event on March 12 except the 50-freestyle and the 400-freestyle relay.
This will be the fourth meeting between the Salukis and the Panthers of Eastern Illinois since 1981. The Panthers hold the series, 3-1, with the last competition occurring in 1995 with an SIU win, 170-80 at home.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Indiana State is 7-2 in duals and tri-meets in 2021 thus far, as the Sycamores were slated to finish third in the Missouri Valley, just behind the Salukis. Indiana State saw wins against every opponent except the two meetings against Missouri State and the Sycamores see the returns of three All-MVC award winners from last season including senior Marlene Pavlu Lewin, sophomore Sarah Moreau, and sophomore Kaimi Matsumoto.
After finishing eighth at the 2020 MAC Championships, Ball State sees a current 4-2 record in their 2020-21 campaign. With wins against Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, Bellarmine, and Xaviar, the Cardinals have dropped to Miami of Ohio and Akron, and see over 10 active Cardinals holding top-10 times in their record book including senior Caitlin Locante placing 23rd at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships.
Missouri Valley opponent Valparaiso has won one meet in their condensed season, taking 186-65 lead over Rose-Hulman for the start of their 2021 campaign. The Brown and Gold saw 36 new top-five times in 2021 from the squad at the last match between the Salukis and Arkansas-Little Rock. Valpo retains sophomore Mikayla DePover who holds the 100-IM school record (1:02.99) and the 400-medley relay (3:51.31) along with sophomore Morgan Markley.
Competing in the Summit League in swimming, Eastern Illinois has garnered a win this season against Butler, 133-129, and sees three current Panthers added to the top-10 times list for the program, including freshman Kennedy Darensbourg who ranks fifth in EIU history in the long-distance 1650-freestyle at 17:41.36. EIU finished fifth at the 2020 Summit League Championships and freshman Camryn Lewis, as well as, Darensbourg were named as the league's swimmers to watch in the 2020-21 season.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU out-swam Evansville and Illinois State on Senior Day last Friday inside Shea Natatorium, in breaking two school records. With her third and second first-place titles in the 100- and 200-breaststroke, newcomer Mima Zaborska broke her own school record, outshining her previous time by .40 seconds, and senior Sierra Forbord broke the 100-freestyle record in her leg of the second-place women's 400-freestyle relay squad A.
In her first 50-freestyle event of the season, sophomore Lucia Romero garnered points for the Salukis and a first place win, touching the wall in 24.07 and ranking third amongst SIU women this year. The 100-backstroke event sought 1, 2, 3 finishes for Southern Illinois. Romero earned the top place (56.02), followed by senior Imogen Watson (57.15), and close behind was junior Deven Speed (57.18).
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For all things Saluki Swimming and Diving, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
