ST. LOUIS – Receiving all eight first-place votes from Missouri Valley Conference coaches, the Missouri State women's swimming and diving team was selected to win the 2019 MVC Conference Championship, as announced by the league Friday.
 
The Bears hold the top time in six different individual categories, with sophomore Libby Howell controlling four of the six freestyle times. All of her top times in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle came during the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational in November. Fellow teammate Loretta Stelnicki leads in the 50 freestyle.
 
Missouri State posts top times in both butterfly events, with Anna Miller leading the 100 fly and Josie Pearson the 200 fly.
 
Similar to the preseason poll, the Bears earned a perfect 64 points. The remaining list from the pre-championship poll includes UNI (53), Indiana State (46), Southern Illinois (41), Illinois State (36), Little Rock (22), Evansville (18), and Valparaiso (8).
 
Championship action will take place Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo.
 
Wednesday's action will include the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. The following day, individual events will commence, with prelims and finals taking place for the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 1-meter dive (1-8), and 200 freestyle relay.
 
Swimming & diving action will continue on Friday with a mix of individual and team events. Prelims and finals includes the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 3-meter diving (9-16), and the 400 medley relay.
 
The championship concludes on Saturday with finals in the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 fly, 3-meter diving (1-8), and the 400 freestyle relay.