Jan. 19, 2012
CHICAGO, Ill. -
The Illinois State swimming and diving team heads to Chicago this Friday, Jan. 20, to compete in a double-dual with Valparaiso and Illinois-Chicago at 5 p.m. The diving team will also compete Saturday at 11 a.m., in the UIC Diving Invite.
The Redbirds are coming off a 194.5-105.5 loss to Ball State at home in Horton Pool last Saturday, where senior diver Brittany Tazzioli hit a NCAA zone meet qualifying score on the 1-meter board for the second time this season. Junior Jeanette Nolte also recorded a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (57.56), and two second-place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard IM.
Head coach Steve Paska is anxious to see the team's transition into the upcoming meet.
"Our meet against Ball State came after a long period without dual meets," Paska said. "We did not seem as sharp and ready to compete. Now, I'm anxious to see the improvements that we make, not in terms of how fast we can swim, but by being more strategic in our racing."
The meet will consist of 13 sprint-oriented events, which differs from the 16-event format the team usually encounters.
"I am looking forward to see how the team challenges themselves to make improvements and adjustments in their racing styles," Paska said. "There has been great energy, and we have had a solid week of practice. It will definitely be an exciting meet to watch."
As well as competing in the double-dual meet Friday, the diving team will compete with eight other teams Saturday, at 11 a.m., in the UIC Diving Invite.
"There is a great spread of teams that will be there, from DI, DII and DIII schools, which is very neat for the divers to come across," head diving coach Phil Hoffmann said. "A majority of our team is from the Chicagoland area, so it will also be nice to have a meet close to home. I believe they are very well prepared, and I look forward to seeing how they compete two days in a row this weekend".
The Redbirds will return to Horton Pool Saturday, Jan. 28, for a dual meet against Missouri Valley foe Northern Iowa. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., and will be the Redbird's Senior Night, as well as the last meet before the Missouri Valley Conference championships in February.
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