Missouri State University

The Missouri State women's swimming and diving team remains in second place to Southern Illinois following Saturday's second day of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. The Salukis lead the meet with 572 points, claiming six of eight event wins in today's competitions while defending champions MSU is in second with 515.5 points, followed by Illinois State in third (469.5), UNI in fourth (253) and Evansville is in fifth with 238 points.

The Bears started the second day off strong with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. Allison Zeller, Fran Moody, Andi Rojas and Jordan Hawkins teamed for a time of 1:45.05 to win gold and set a new MSU varsity record.

Zeller recorded the only individual event win on day two in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 57.38. Teammate Hawkins was right behind, finishing second in 57.40.

MSU Freshman Jessica Bennett placed third in the second event of the evening, the 400-yard IM, in a time of 4:35.71. Rojas and Moody also added top-five finishes in the 100-yard butterfly. Rojas stopped the clock at 57.18 to place second and Moody finished third in 57.98.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Kyla Meuer touched the wall in 1:04.58, breaking her previous varsity record of 1:04.86, to earn a second-place finish. Moody finished in a close third in a final time of 1:05.59.

The Bears ended the meet with a runner-up finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Wellman, Rojas, Meuer, and Breanna Hollar combined for a finals time of 7:37.71.

The MVC Championship continues tomorrow at 10 a.m. with preliminary heats of the 1,650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 3-Meter Diving and the 400 Freestyle Relay.