Nov. 16, 2011

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State swimmer Roni Balzam has been tabbed Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week, the league announced Wednesday in its weekly swimming & diving release. It is the third consecutive week that a Bear has taken home the weekly award.

The Bears had a tough test last week when 15th-ranked Missouri invaded the Hammons Student Center Pool. In all, 20 HSC pool records were broken.

Sophomore Roni Balzam claimed the only Missouri State women's victory on the evening with a win in the 200 butterfly. The Ramat Yishay, Israel native joined in on the record-breaking action as she edged out Mizzou's Dominique Bouchard by .04 seconds and set a new pool record in the event with a time of 2:04.59.

Balzam captured a second-place finish against the Tigers in the 100 fly (58.40) and also swam a season-best 4:38.76 in the 400 individual medley.

Her time in the 200 fly leads the MVC, while she ranks second among MVC swimmers in the 100 fly.