OXFORD, Ohio—Opening the 2014-15 campaign this weekend, the Miami University women’s swimming and diving team hits the road for the RedHawks’ season opener before returning home the following day. Miami swims at Purdue Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m.and then hosts a co-ed meet vs. Xavier on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. at the Nixon Aquatic Center.
The RedHawk women are looking to start strong this season, under second year head coach Mark Davis, after finishing 9-1 in dual competition last year. The RedHawks are replacing five graduating seniors from last season, but Miami is favored to be the conference champions in the Mid-American Conference preseason swimming and diving polls, as voted on by MAC coaches.
Purdue is coming off a season where it finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships and 25th at the NCAA Championships, sending seven swimmers and three divers to the NCAA Championships. Seven of those who qualified return this season, including senior diver, MacKenzie Tweardy, who was named an All-America diver. This is Purdue’s first action of 2014-15. The two teams competed last season with Purdue winning, 177-116, in Oxford as Miami’s lone loss of the dual-meet season.
Xavier, who finished third in the Big East last season, is coming off a loss to the University of Louisville on Oct. 10. Xavier also competed in the Butler Fall Invitational earlier this season and have a meet against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Friday, Oct. 17. Miami defeated Xavier, 158-95, when these teams competed in Oxford last season.
The above is a press release submitted by the Miami media relations staff.