Women's Swimming & Diving Tabbed Second In MAC Preseason Polls
9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's swimming and diving team was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference preseason polls, as announced by the MAC on Friday. UB earns its highest preseason poll ranking in program history after notching its highest finish, third, at the MAC Championships a season ago.
The Bulls finished the 2016-17 campaign on a high note as they were able to claim a third place finish at the MAC Championships, falling just short of Akron and Eastern Michigan for the team crown. Buffalo saw 10 school records gall and two MAC records fall while placing two athletes on First Team All-MAC and four athletes on Second Team All-MAC squads. Junior Megan Burns also earned MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year honors after taking home gold and setting school records in a pair of events.
Burns will highlight a number of key returners for the women in 2017-18 after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in three different races, the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free. Burns was able to post top-25 finishes in the 50 free and 100 free at the NCAA's. Another key returner for the Bulls will be fellow senior Sarah Baxter who was a part of the Bulls record setting 400 free relay squad. UB has three other returning swimmers from the successful 400 free relay team as Catherine Schultheis, Andrea Ernst and Katelyn Burns all return to the pool for the Bulls this season.
In the diving well, the Bulls will return senior Kelly Moran and sophomore Olivia Gosselin while also adding a pair of freshman to the mix in Isobel Jane Holcomb and Journi Northorp. Moran is coming off of a strong junior campaign that saw her take home 15th place at the NCAA Zones in the three-meter dive.
The Bulls open up their 2017-18 campaign next weekend as they head down to Florida for the FIU Invite on Friday and Saturday.
2017-18 MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Preseason Poll
- Akron (8)
- BUFFALO
- Eastern Michigan
- Miami (OH)
- Ohio
- Bowling Green
- Toledo
- Ball State
MAC Champion: Akron (8)
