Dec. 29, 2005

OXFORD, Ohio - After wrapping up the first half of the season with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 mark in conference, the Miami University women's swimming and diving team was rewarded with the No. 2 ranking in the latest Division I Mid-Major Poll released by collegeswimming.com.

Currently in the midst of a six-week break from competition, Miami has continued to dominate the Mid-American Conference during the 2005-06 season as its conference dual meet winning streak stands at 36. The RedHawks have posted wins over Akron, Buffalo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan this season with three MAC dual meets remaining after the New Year. Miami has not lost a conference dual meet in nearly five years as its last setback in conference came on Feb. 3, 2001 when it was defeated by Eastern Michigan. Miami also has posted non-conference wins over Marshall and Illinois.

Harvard University earned the No. 1 ranking in the poll, while the RedHawks were one of five Mid-American Conference schools ranked in the top 25. Eastern Michigan (No. 3), Akron (No. 7), Toledo (No. 10) and Bowling Green (No. 11) all joined the RedHawks in the rankings. Miami has defeated seventh-ranked Akron, 184-114, (Oct. 28) and third-ranked Eastern Michigan, 176-103, (Nov. 12), and it will face both 10th-ranked Toledo (Jan. 21) and 11th-ranked Bowling Green (Feb. 4) in 2006.

The Division I Mid-Major Poll was designed by collegeswimming.com to promote schools that do not benefit from large football and basketball television agreements. Institutions from the following conferences are eligible to participate in the Mid- Major Poll: America East, Atlantic 10, Big West, Colonial Athletic Association, Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League, Horizon League, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-America, Mid-Continent, Missouri Valley, North Eastern, Patriot, and Sun Belt conferences. The rankings are based on each team's best dual-meet lineup as judged and submitted by participating teams

The RedHawks resume dual meet action on Jan. 14, 2006 when they travel to Gambier, Ohio for a tri-meet versus Kenyon and Cincinnati. The three teams hit the pool at 1 p.m.