Nov. 25, 2008

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University women's swimming and diving team is ranked number one in the first CSCAA/CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Division I poll of the 2008-09 season. The poll ranks the schools from non-BCS conferences four times each year and emphasizes success in dual meet competition.

Towson, Western Kentucky, Ohio and San Jose State round out the women's top five. It's the first time Miami has held the top spot since February, 2007. The RedHawks also finished the 2003-04 campaign in first place.

Miami started the season with a double-dual, losing to nationally ranked Louisville and beating Purdue, but has since won six straight dual meets, including five-of-five against Mid-Major opponents.

"This is exciting for our program to be at this level," said RedHawk head coach Dave Jennings.  "It is a tribute to the swimmers and divers who have swam and dove very well in the hard training part of the season.  We would like to continue this into the MAC Championships in February."

The next competition for Coach RedHawks (7-1) is the Miami Invitational, December 4-6 at the Nixon Aquatic Center. Following the Invitational, Miami faces four more dual meets before traveling to Bowling Green for the Mid-American Conference Championships on February 25-27. Dave Jennings's