TEMPE, Ariz. – Back at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for the first time in three months, the Sun Devil Women's Swim team will open 2023 by hosting Washington State on Saturday, January 14, at 12 p.m. MST.
The meet will consist of swimming events only and will be in long course meters versus short-course yardage.
A live stream and live results, if made available, will be shared with fans prior to the start of the meet.
The Sun Devils return to action for the first time since the midseason NC State Invite in Greensboro in November, where they placed third out of eight teams.
Saturday's showdown with the Cougars will mark the first of a four-meet homestand for the Sun Devils that will close out the regular season.
24 hours out.
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) October 21, 2022
Your first of five chances to see Lindsay Looney, Léon Marchand and the Sun Devils at home this season. pic.twitter.com/ayv1Zy5qV4
PREVIEWING THE COUGARS
The Cougars are 1-2 on the season and like the Sun Devils, are making their return to the pool this weekend after last competing at a November midseason invitational at Texas A&M. There at the Art Adamson Invite, the Cougars placed sixth out of seven participating teams. They set numerous school records and top-10 times in program history.
Their lone win came against Northern Colorado (October 29), after they dropped their first dual two meets of the season against No. 9 Cal (October 15) and No. 2 Stanford (October 28).
Freshman Emily Lundgren already cemented herself as the fastest breaststroker in Washington State history, after setting school records in both the 100 breast (1:00.78) and 200 breast (2:08.94) at their midseason invite. Lundgren is one of nine first-years on the Cougars' roster.
The Cougars are led by fifth-year head coach Matt Leach. Leach has continuously elevated the program, and in 2021, he guided the Cougars to their highest team score in program history at the Pac-12 Conference Championships.
SUN DEVIL NOTABLES
The Sun Devils knew going into the season they'd be powered by the duo of co-captains and redshirt juniors Lindsay Looney and Jadé Foelske, but they've also received a big boost from a handful of underclassmen, including Charli Brown, Emma Gehlert, Iza Adame and Ieva Maluka, among plenty of others.
MALUKA MAGIC: Back in November, when the Sun Devils ventured to Los Angeles to meet UCLA, the rookie Maluka swept all three individual events she raced in, winning the the 200 free, 500 free and 200 IM for the first wins of her collegiate career. Maluka crowded the top of the leaderboard at the midseason NC State Invite, as well, including top-finishes in the 200 IM (7th), 200 free (11th) and the 100 free (14th).
GOOD GRIEF, CHARLI BROWN: The Australian sophomore has proved to be a mainstay in the Sun Devil lineup this season, as she most recently had three top-10 finishes at the NC State Invite back in November, which included the 400 IM (3rd), 200 IM (4th) and the 200 back (10th). In her last three dual meets, Brown has placed top-three on seven separate occasions.
LOONEY TUNES: Though she already owns the school record in the 200 fly (1:53.25), Lindsay Looney seems destined to break that mark this season. At the NC State Invite, Looney swam two of the top-10 fastest 200 fly times in program history, including a 1:53.42, the second-best mark in team history.
NORDIN IN SAN ANTONIO: Sun Devil Swim alum Emma Nordin is currently in San Antonio, Texas, this week for the NCAA Woman of the Year ceremony, as the Carmel, Indiana, native was one of 30 finalists up for the award. The winner is set to be announced Thursday, as the awards luncheon will be livestreamed on the NCAA's YouTube Channel at 11:30 a.m. Central on Jan. 12. Watch here: https://on.ncaa.com/WOTY23.
COACH'S IMPACT: Associate head coach Rachel Stratton-Mills is fueled by her passion for swimming, coaching and teaching. Six years after her hiring, she continues to help the Sun Devils soar to new heights.
Rachel Stratton-Mills and the Sun Devils found each other at the perfect time in 2017. A program with its sights set on greatness needed a coach intent on getting them there.
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) January 11, 2023
Six years later, it's her passion for ASU that continues to fuel her.
STORY: https://t.co/qIZK8y6jS1 pic.twitter.com/9czN17u49v
FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up with the Sun Devil Women this weekend via the team's Twitter account, @ASUSwimDive, which will be updated with scores, results and more from the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.