Huskers Go Pink to Open Regular Season

Meet: South Dakota State
Date : Oct. 22, 2011
Time : 12 p.m.
Location : Devaney Natatorium, Bob Devaney Sports Center

Lincoln - The Nebraska swimming and diving team opens its regular season on Saturday afternoon as the Huskers play host to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The opening dual of the season is also promoting breast cancer awareness, as the Huskers will be wearing pink suits and pink caps, while the coaches will be wearing pink polos for the event.

The Huskers are 7-0 all-time against the Jackrabbits, who opened their season last Saturday with a loss at Green Bay. Last year, the Huskers defeated the Jackrabbits in Brookings, S.D., 175-91.

This season marks Head Coach Pablo Morales' 11th at the helm for the Huskers. Morales holds a 52-35 all-time record at Nebraska and has led the Huskers to at least six dual wins in six of the past eight seasons. Assistant Coach Doug Humphrey and Diving Coach Natasha Chikina return for their 12th and seventh seasons, respectively.

After this weekend's season opener, the Huskers will travel to Houston, Texas on Friday, Oct. 28 for the Rice Invitational. The Huskers will then have two weeks off before returning to the Devaney Natatorium to take on UNO on Nov. 11.

+ Pool Points:

+The dual against South Dakota State not only serves to promote breast cancer awareness, but the event is also the swimming and diving team's annual family weekend.

+Junior Ariel Weech set a lifetime best in the 100-yard freestyle in the Pan American games, held in Guadalajara, Mexico on Wednesday evening. Her time of 57.58 landed her a victory in the consolation finals, earning Weech a ninth-place finish overall.

+ The Huskers defeated the Nebraska Alumni on Oct. 8, 140.5-112.5 in the Huskers' final event before the regular season. Ellan Dufour won multiple events on the day. Rebekah Land, Ashleigh Reiter and Shannon Guy also won events against the Alumni.

Scouting the Jackrabbits:

South Dakota State is coached by Brad Erickson, who is in his 36th season with the Jackrabbits. Senior Morgan McLain led the Jackrabbits against Wisconsin-Green Bay, sweeping the backstroke events. McLain also won the 200 individual medley. Senior Ashley Valdez also contributed a win in the 100-yard freestyle.

Last Meeting with SDSU (11/21/10):

The Nebraska swimming team defeated South Dakota State 175-91 in Brookings, SD. The victory marked the fourth duel win of the year for the Huskers.

The Huskers were led by Hayley Martin who had three individual event wins on the day, including the 200- and 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. Bailey Pons posted two wins on the day in the 1000- and 500-yard freestyle. Ellan Dufour also had multiple wins at SDSU in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. The Huskers swept the 200-yard backstroke on the backs of Ellan Dufour, Brandie Kavalec and Rachell McClain.

Other winners on the day for Nebraska were Ashley Reiter (100-yard breaststroke), Lexie Halberstadt (200-yard butterfly), Ariel Weech (100-yard freestyle), Kristin Strecker (200-yard breaststroke) and Brandie Kavalec (400-yard IM).