ST. LOUIS – After collecting its 15
th program conference championship in 2019, Missouri State garnered the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference women's swimming and diving preseason poll, as announced by the league Friday.
The Bears amassed all eight first-place votes from head coaches around the league, boasting a perfect score of 64 points. Southern Illinois and Indiana State rounded out the top three with 54 and 44 points, respectively. Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Evansville, and Valparaiso made up the rest of this season's poll.
Missouri State is coming off a phenomenal season which included a host of distinctions including winning the 2019 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships, garnering 2019 Freshman Swimmer of the Year in
Alex Thorson and earning 16 all-MVC nods - seven first-team and nine honorable mention.
The Bears are returning 12 all-conference athletes and has a stellar incoming freshman class ready to make an impact.
Libby Howell highlights the returners after winning three individual events at last year's championship, while teaming up with fellow Bears to capture a trio of relay titles. She is joined by
Anna Miller, who finished second in the 50 free, and Thorson who took third in the 200 free. Both Miller and Thorson were apart of two championship relays.
MSU opens the 2019-20 season at the Show-Me Showdown in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Oct. 4.
For all the latest information on the Missouri State swimming and diving team, visit
missouristatebears.com or follow
@MoStateSwim on Twitter.
Preseason Poll Results
- Missouri State (8) – 64
- Southern Illinois – 54
- Indiana State – 44
- UNI – 43
- Illinois State – 34
- Arkansas-Little Rock – 23
- Evansville – 16
- Valparaiso – 10
#MSUBears
