HOUSTON – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving team heads across town for the Rice Invitational on Oct. 23 and 24. The Cougars will race against the home Owls alongside the University of the Incarnate Word and Arkansas. Friday’s start time is set for 4 p.m. with a double-session on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Last week, the Cougars gave fans an opportunity to catch their home team in action as they hosted their annual intra-squad Red & White Meet, where the Red Team edged out the White Team, 87.5-86.5.
Freshman Eleanna Koutsouveli won two events, the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard IM, earning 19 points for the Red Team. American Athletic Conference Diver of the Year Taylor Olanski earned 18 points after winning a pair of diving events, and rounding out the podium was sophomore Micaela Bouter after grabbing a first place finish in the 1-meter dive and second in the 3-meter dive for a total of 14 points.
The Houston program will face all familiar faces against the in-city rival Rice Owls and the University of the Incarnate Word, who the Cougars faced last season in a tough 124-117 loss. The Cougars will also face Arkansas for the first time since 2011.
The last time the Cougars competed in the Rice Invitational in 2013, the team placed 2nd.
The meet will be championship scored for the top 12 eligible individual times and the top six eligible relays. Each team will have four scoring individuals and two relays.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will host a homestand against SMU and North Texas in two dual meets Oct. 30 and 31 in the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center Natatorium. Action begins Friday at 6 p.m. against the Mustangs and Saturday at 11 a.m. against the Mean Green.
COUGARS TO HOST AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Houston will host the American Athletic Conference Championships for the first time as the best swimmers and divers in the league visit the CRWC from Feb. 17-20, 2016. Following the conference meet, the Cougars will look to close the season at the NCAA Championships, to be held March 17-19, 2016 in Atlanta.
Swimming news courtesy of Houston Swimming & Diving.