Athletics

Swimming and diving hosts Villanova

Megan Siverling has led the Penn State women's swimming team with five victories on the season. Credit: GoPSUsports.comAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Following two road meets, the Penn State swimming and diving teams return home to host in-state foe Villanova on Friday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. This marks the second home event of the season for the Nittany Lions, who downed Georgia Tech at home to open the season on Oct. 3.

The women’s team has started the season a perfect 6-0. The CSCAA NCAA Division I women’s swimming and diving rankings placed Penn State No. 14 in the most recent poll on Oct. 23. This marks the team’s best start to a season since the 2007-08 squad went 11-0.

Meanwhile, the men’s team is ranked 18th in the nation, according to the CSCAA NCAA Division I men’s swimming and diving rankings. Penn State’s 3-1 record marks its second-straight season with a 3-1 start.

Senior Megan Siverling (Chester Springs, Pa.) has led the women’s team with five victories in individual events so far this season. Cumulatively, the men’s relay teams have won all but two events during the 2014-15 campaign.

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  • First 200 fans in attendance receive a pink Penn State swim cap

The OpponentThe Penn State women’s team is 20-1-0 all-time against the Wildcats in a series that dates back to 1980. Last season, the Nittany Lions defeated Villanova, 166-118, on the road.

The Wildcats’ women’s swimming and diving program has started the season 2-1, defeating La Salle and West Virginia, which Penn State most recently defeated. Villanova’s only loss came to Connecticut.

The Penn State men’s team holds a 25-13 all-time record against Villanova, with the first meeting nearly 80 years ago in 1938.

Villanova’s men’s swimming and diving team is maintaining a 0-3 record this season, falling to La Salle, Connecticut and West Virginia.

Last Time OutThe women’s swimming and diving team is coming off a 144-99 victory at West Virginia on Oct. 23. The Nittany Lions earned wins in seven of 13 events and totaled 23 top-three finishes on the evening. Five different individuals picked up first-place finishes and the squad added two relay victories. Siverling set a WVU Natatorium pool record in the 200-yard freestyle with a mark of 1:49.52.

The men's swimming and diving team most recently captured nine-of-13 titles en route to a 145-98 victory over West Virginia. Five different Nittany Lions finished first in individual events, including Matt Stasiunas (Avondale, Pa.) who won the 500 and 1,000 free titles. In addition, Nittany Lions’ relay teams swept the meet’s relay events with the 400 free relay time set the pool record.

Next UpPenn State returns to McCoy Natatorium on Nov. 7-8, welcoming Virginia and Michigan. Friday’s action starts at 6 p.m. and Sunday’s events start at 11 a.m. 

Last Updated October 30, 2014