NAIA Top 10 Poll

Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands women's swimming & diving team have picked up right where they left off last season being ranked third in the NAIA Coaches Poll, announced by the national office.  The Patriots, who have started the season 2-0, earned 58 points in the poll.

UC has 22 swims that rank in the top 15 of their respective events, including 13 of them that are in the top five fastest time this season. Reigning NAIA Swimmer of the Year Mendy de Rooi has three times that ranked in the top five, including the second fastest time in the 100 fly with a time of 58.78.  The junior is also ranked third in the 100 free (53.84) and fifth in the 50 free (24.79).

Maria Basto, Yuliia Hnidenko, and Abby Miller have each posted a pair of top five performances.  Basto went 59.88 in the 100 back to be ranked second in the event, while she is ranked third in the 200 back (2:11.53).  Hnidenko continues to shine in the breaststroke being ranked third and second, respectfully, in the 100 breast (1:08.03) and the 200 breast (2:28.14). 

Miller has qualified in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive competition and currently is ranked fourth in both events.

Maryann Smith has Cumberlands final individual top five time as she went 2:15.52 to be ranked fourth in the 200 fly.  The freshman is also ranked tenth in both the 1000 free and 100 fly. Isabelle Assetstahl has gone 2:33.43 in the 200 breast, which ranks tenth.

In addition the individual success, UC has seen tremendous success from their relays as they have the fastest time in the NAIA in the 200 medley relay (1:50.50).  Cumberlands is also ranked third in both the 400-medley relay and the 400 free relay.

Keiser received six first-place votes and 67 points to be atop the poll, while the defending champion SCAD is ranked second. In addition to Cumberlands, four other MSC schools are ranked in the top ten.  Indiana Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, and Loyola are ranked fifth thru seventh, while Life is ranked ninth.

The Patriots will return to the water Saturday, November 2, when they host Loyola (LA) in their home opener.  The meet is slated to begin at 1 p.m. with live video available here.

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