Southern Illinois University
Arkansas-Little Rock (Women) with Henderson State (M/W)
Swim and Dive to Kickoff 2022 with Weekend Meets
01/20/2022 | 11:45:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki swimming and diving is back to start the second half of the season in their first two meets of 2022, where they will travel to Little Rock for the women to challenge the Trojans and both teams take on Division II Henderson State Friday afternoon. The Salukis will come back home inside Shea Natatorium where the women will meet MVC opponent, Indiana State on Saturday, January 22 at 1pm. Live results for both meets will be available via Meet Mobile.
SIU-LITTLE ROCK / HENDERSON STATE HISTORY
Starting in 1994, SIU holds a sweep against MVC affiliate Little Rock, 7-0. And has met Division II Henderson State twice, holding the upper hand 2-0.
Last year, the women saw Little Rock in tri-meet action with Valpo in Carbondale in 2021, which resulted in a 185-86 top over the Trojans, and a first-place finish in every event but one for SIU. The last meeting with Henderson State occured in the 2019-20 season in tri-meet action at Little Rock. The Saluki women throttled their opponent, 190.5-43.5 and the men's program slid past 126-79.
SIU-INDIANA STATE HISTORY
Beginning their eighth meeting since 1980, Southern Illinois tops the Sycamores 6-1. The Dawgs last saw Indiana State in 2021 on the road, just narrowly beating out their fellow MVC member in a 151-149 battle in the pool in a meet with Ball State. The relay events were split: the Salukis taking the first place prize in the 400-medley relay, while ISU outswam in the 200-free relay to end the afternoon. The match up was an even battle, both Salukis and Sycamores finding the first place spot to add to their team scores, where the Salukis narrowed out.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Little Rock has seen action in the pool since September, placing second in their All-Arkansas Invite featuring Arkansas, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, Ozarks, and Williams Baptist and resulting in a Razorbacks victory. The Trojans competed in a meet with Tulane and Air Force, while splitting their final two tri-meets of 2021 and taking victor over Ouachita Baptist and Saint Louis. Little Rock started 2022 with a 139.5-113.5 fall to North Texas. Returning in the water for Little Rock is MVC noted Annya Grom, holding seven school records and the third place finalist in the 50-free at the 2021 MVC Championship.
The Reddies' men are 3-2, while the women are holding a 2-3 record in their 2021-22 campaigns. The men's program finished in second place (739) at the 2021 NSISC Championships with 10 first and second place finales. While the women reached fourth in total, with individuals finding the podium thrice. This season, the men's program won the All-Arkansas Invite, and took home first place finishes against Oklahoma Christian, Ouachita Baptist, and Hendrix College.
At the 2021 MVC Championship, the Sycamores finished with the bronze in Carbondale. Totaling 475.5 points, Indiana State sought a first place finish in the 200-fly by Marni Gray, and Marlene Pavlu Lewin finding the runner-up spot in the 200-back. ISU is holding 3-5 this season, finding wins up against Northern Iowa, Bellarmine and Eastern Illinois. The Sycamores will meet IUPUI and Butler on Friday.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU wrapped up 2021 with a sweep at the mid-season A3 Performance Championship in Carbondale, November 11-13. Freshman Celia Pulido and sophomore Donat Csuvarszki reached NCAA "B" cuts in the 100-back and 100-free over the meet, while also taking the new school records. Diver Laura Mircea displayed her new personal best on the one-meter, qualifying for NCAA Zones tallying 269.03. And the relay squad of Alex Schlueter, Zander Minano, Zheng Yang Yeap, and Csuvarszki sought the school and pool record in the 200-free relay (1:19.60), the longest standing men's relay record since the 2011-12 season.
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Players Mentioned
