St. Louis (Sept. 25, 2024) -- The Swim and Dive season is quickly approaching, and the Missouri Valley Conference has just released their preseason coaches polls. In their first year in the MVC the men's team has been picked to finish fourth, and the women's team has been picked to finish seventh this season.
 
Quote from Head Coach Ashely Dell
"Where we are in the preseason polls is exactly where we finished on both sides last year and that's great, but I also think with the newcomers we have and the continued development of our upperclassmen, we have the opportunity to surprise some people this season. I couldn't be more excited to kick off our meets in a few weeks!"
 
The Flames aim for a promising 2024-25 diving campaign, with a roster that returns Junior Harrison Nolan (Riverside, Ill./ Riverside Brookfield High School), who is coming off winning both events at the Mid-American Conference Championship Meet last March , and Senior Ciara McLiment (Farmington Hills, Mich./ Mercy), the two-time reigning Missouri Valley Conference Three-Meter Diving Champion.
 
The Flames have four individual school record holders and fourteen new scholar-athletes set to compete in between the swimming lanes this season. Graduate student Rafe Dolan Peterson (Austin, Minn./ Austin High School/ Wisconsin-Green Bay) and sophomore James McCarthy  (Minnetonka, Minn./DeLaSalle) are coming off strong postseason performances on the men's side, while senior Kendra Preski  (Springfield, Ill./ Glenview High School/ Colorado State) and graduate student Taira Juronis (Palos Hills, Ill./ Amos Alonzo Stagg) will be dawning the Flames' swim cap once again on the women's side.
 
2024 MVC Men's Swim and Dive Coaches Poll

1. Miami
2. Missouri State
3. Southern Illinois
4. UIC
5. Ball State
6. Evansville
7. Valparaiso

 
2024 MVC Women's Swim and Dive Coaches Poll

1. Missouri State
2. Indiana State
3. Southern Illinois
4. Illinois State
5. Little Rock
6. UNI
7. UIC
8. Evansville
9. Valparaiso

 
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