Oct. 16, 2008
COLLEGE STATION - The back-to-back Big 12 champion Texas A&M women's swimming & diving team is ranked ninth in the first edition of the 2008 College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Top 25 Poll released this week.
This marks the second time in the last three seasons that Texas A&M (2-0) has begun the year ranked No. 9 in the CSCAA poll. The Aggies started with a No. 9 ranking to begin the 2006-07 season and eventually rose to the No. 5 spot. Last season, A&M opened at No. 6 in the poll and spent most of the year there, with the exception of a few weeks in the No. 4 spot -- the same spot they finished in at last year's NCAA Championships.
The Aggies once again will have a rigorous schedule on their hands. A&M will face seven top 25 teams during the 2008-09 regular season. Next Thursday, the Aggies will take on No. 18 Missouri in Lawrence, Kan., while facing No. 19 Penn State in College Station eight days later.
The Art Adamson Invitational will showcase four top 15 women's swimming & diving programs. No. 5 California, No. 12 SMU, and No. 14 Michigan will all face the No. 9 Aggies in addition to a wealth of strong diving programs from around the country.
In January, A&M will face a resurgent Texas team that begins the year ranked No. 7 in the nation. A&M will also face 2007 national champion Auburn, ranked No. 6 to start the year, in Florida in February.
The Aggies opened the year with dominating wins over North Texas and Rice at home last Friday. They will continue their season on Oct. 23 with dual meets against Kansas and No. 18 Missouri in Lawrence followed by the Big 12 Relays the next day.
College Swim Coaches Association Poll 1. Arizona (240) 2. Georgia (229) 3. Stanford (226) 4. Florida (210) 5. California (203) 6. Auburn (200) 7. Texas (198) 8. Indiana (177) 9. Texas A&M (170) 10. Minnesota (169) 11. Tennessee (169) 12. SMU (150) 13. Virginia (143) 14. Michigan (127) 15. North Carolina (121) 16. USC (110) 17. UCLA (100) 18. Missouri (95) 19. Penn State (91) 20. Arizona State (90) 21. Arkansas (69) 22. Northwestern (64) 23. Wisconsin (57) 24. Utah (47) 25. Alabama (42)