Southern Illinois University
Missouri State University
Swim and Dive heads to Springfield for Two-Day with Missouri State
09/30/2021 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
SIU-MISSOURI STATE HISTORY
The Salukis have matched-up against swimming and diving rival Missouri State since 1995. The women are near .500 in all-time records, falling short just 11-13 in history. The men are 9-14 in the series.
In dual-meet action last season, the SIU men overtook the Bears for the first time since 2006, finalizing the score in a tight race, 176-173. The men took home three individual wins in the 50-free, 200-free, and 100-back, while battling and taking gold in the 200-medley and 400-free relays. Although the women's 200-medley relay squad squeezed past to bring another broken record in the first event of the morning, the women's program dropped to the Bears, 153-195.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Missouri State women's team took home the MVC title inside Shea Natatorium in 2021, sliding past the Salukis with 929.5 points and taking first in all relay events. At the MAC Championships, the Bears held second place to host Miami of Ohio, totaling 687 team points. SIU followed closely behind with 588.5 points.
The first match up of the 2021-22 season for the Bears, Missouri State sees the return of now fifth-year four-time All-MVC recipient Libby Howell, who went 12 for 12 in individual events at the MVC Championships, the Zubina twins -- Ulyana and Yulina -- who both contributed to first place relay finishes at the MVC's, and senior Pawel Krawczyk who holds three 2021 MAC individual first place finishes.
RETURNING TALENT
Mima Zaborska and Sierra Forbord stand out as returners for the SIU women. Zaborska, who holds the Saluki records in the 100-breast (1:01.15), 200-breast (2:12.96), and a member of the 200-medley relay (1:41.06), garnered three first-place titles at the 2021 MVC Championship while being named to the All-MVC First Team and 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year. Forbord returns to Southern Illinois for her fifth year, held three second-place titles at the staple conference event, while currently holding the SIU record in the women's 100-freestyle and named to All-MVC First Team.
In the pool on the men's side, senior Zander Minano was named All-MAC First Team while earning the SIU record in the 50-free (19.90), sophomore Donat Csuvarszki, also named to the All-MAC First Team list was the MAC Champion in the 100-free (43.94) and finished third in the 50-free (20.06), while on the diving board the Salukis' see senior Kyle Campbell -- who set personal records and top-five placements on both one- and three-meter at the 2021 MAC Championship.
MVC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The annual preseason poll is expected to be released by the Missouri Valley tomorrow. The Salukis were picked to finish second by the MVC coaches with 52 points last season, behind opponent Missouri State. Valparaiso rounded out the poll with 10 points in eighth place.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For all things Saluki Swimming and Diving, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
