Feb. 17, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's swimming and diving team will compete this week at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. Competition begins Wednesday (Feb. 18) and runs through Saturday (Feb. 21) at Canham Natatorium with primary sessions beginning at 11 a.m. and championship sessions taking place at 6:30 p.m.

The Spartans (4-6-1) haven't competed since Jan. 31 when they lost a tight battle to Oakland, 151-149.

"Our goal is to improve on what we did at Northwestern earlier this season and to score as many points as we can," said MSU head coach Matt Gianiodis. "It would be great to see our seniors end their careers on a really high note."

Earlier this season at the Northwestern Invitational, the Spartans posted their fastest times in 13 of 17 events. The three-day meet also saw Heather Kiluk set a new school mark in the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.44 while the 400 medley relay team of Stephanie Fisher, Becca Ebner, Kerry Sodonis and Erinn Wertz also set a new school mark of 3:45.80.

Kiluk, a senior, has the team's top swims this season in the 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 freestyle as well as the 200 and 400 IM. Ebner has led the Spartans all season in the butterfly events as she has placed first in 12 of 18 butterfly events she has competed in this season.

Junior Laura DeFord has been MSU's top breaststroker this season, having posted the team's best times in the 50, 100 and 200. Fisher has the team's best times in the 100 and 200 backstroke as well as the 50 free.

On the boards, the Spartans are led by a pair of seniors in Danielle Williams and Alycia Mokedanz. Williams and Mokedanz, along with fellow divers Kayla Kalmbach, Jordan Jackson and Sarah Clay, have all qualified for NCAA Zones. Williams placed sixth on the three-meter board at last year's Big Ten Championships while Mokedanz's best finish was 14th in the one-meter competition.