Swimming and Diving to Host Louisiana-Monroe
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 15, 2002
HOUSTON - There aren't many more chances for fans to catch the University of Houston swimming and diving program in its home waters this year.
On Saturday, the Cougars will play host to Louisiana-Monroe in an NCAA dual meet, scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m in the UH Natatorium. It marks the Cougars' third home meet in the month of November but it will also be UH's next-to-last home event. Only a Jan. 17 showdown with LSU highlights the Cougars' remaining home slate.
The Cougars (1-2) come into the meet on the heels of a 132-104 loss to Arkansas on Nov. 6 at the UH Natatorium. That meet was part of a busy weekend for the Cougars, who dropped a 162-122 decision to crosstown rival one day earlier.
However, the UH diving program has been in action since that time. The Cougar divers took part in the Tennessee Diving Invitational last weekend and made an impressive showing.
Senior Yulia Pakhalina showed why she continues to ranks among the nation's premier divers, by winning the 3-meter event by more than 27 points ahead of the second-place finisher. It marked her 23rd consecutive win in the event during her illustrious college career.
Although she saw her 10-event winning streak snapped on the 1-meter board, Pakhalina has still won 46 of the 48 collegiate diving events in which she has entered. In addition, the Penza, Russia, native has never finished below second place in any diving event.
For her impressive performances in Tennessee, Pakhalina was honored as the Conference USA Diver of the Week. It was the second straight week she collected the award from the league and seventh time in her career.
Junior Lucile Turpin has been a steady performer in the swimming pool for the Cougars this season. The French Reunion Islands native has posted the fastest times in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley in C-USA and has recorded the league's third fastest time in the 200-yard butterfly.
Freshman Stacey Williams, who was named the league's first Swimmer of the Week this season, has made her impact felt during her first collegiate season, posting top five times by a C-USA swimmer in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.
Senior Falon Hopkins has been equally impressive for the Cougars in 2002, recording the fourth fastest time in C-USA in the 50-yard freestyle and the fifth-fastest in the100-yard butterfly.