The following is a press release courtesy of Florida Gulf Coast University.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Having not raced in its home pool since October of 2013, the FGCU women’s swimming and diving team is ready to make up for lost time with a 2014-15 schedule which lists eight home contests and 13 total.
“We have a very tough schedule that is designed to really test the team,” head coach Neal Studd said. “With several Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conference opponents we hope to be even more prepared for our conference championship and the NCAA finals. We are looking forward to getting started with competition next month and are very eager to return to racing in our home pool.”
In a much-anticipated return, the Eagles kick of the campaign with an exhibition at the FGCU/Lee County Aquatics Center on Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. before they begin the regular season at the All Florida Invite hosted by the University of Florida, slated for Oct. 3-5. In last year’s meet among the state’s best, the Green and Blue claimed third place behind Florida State and the host Gators.
After returning from The Swamp the Eagles will host their first home meet as they welcome CCSA member Incarnate Word for a two-day event, beginning Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. and resuming the next day at 10 a.m.
The Green and Blue continues home action by hosting the University of Miami on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. Holding a 4-3 dual-meet advantage over the Hurricanes, the Eagles will look to duplicate the success of last season’s contest where they finished first in 10 of 16 events for a 175-123 victory in Coral Gables.
The fall slate resumes with a road trip to Columbia, S.C., where the Eagles will go head-to-head with the Gamecocks of USC on Oct. 31 for the first time in program history. Following their bird-versus-bird battle, the Eagles head back out, traveling to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Invite, Nov. 20-22. After taking second in last year’s meet, FGCU will look to keep standing out against high-major competition from both the SEC and ACC.
Following their month away, FGCU will kick off a four-meet home stand as it welcomes North Florida to The Nest on Dec. 16. Last season’s contest between the two saw a dominating 143.5-94.5 victory by the Green and Blue after five different Eagles posted multiple first-place finishes leading to the overall win. Remaining at home, the Eagles end 2014 with a tri-meet against FAU and Georgia Tech on Dec. 19.
The 2015 portion of the schedule begins with a quad-meet at home on Jan. 3, where FGCU will play host to Liberty, Campbell and Central Connecticut State. The following weekend Nebraska will travel to Fort Myers to face the Eagles on Jan. 10.
In their final dual meet on the road, FGCU will head to Miami to take on FIU on Jan. 24. In their previous meeting the Eagles grabbed a 189.5-109.5 triumph, finishing first in 11 of 16 events to claim their 10th all-time win over the Panthers.
Rounding out the regular season, the Green and Blue will welcome Florida State to The Nest for a dual, spanning Jan. 30-31. The Eagles will look to claim their first-ever win over the Seminoles after falling, 189-109, last fall in Tallahassee.
FGCU wraps up the year at the CCSA Conference Championship, held at the University of Georgia, February 18-21. After taking second place, and ending a five-year winning streak in the 2014 championship, the Eagles will look to get back on top in 2015.
Ending this spring with a 5-3 (1-0 CCSA) record, the Green and Blue overcame adversity during the 2013-14 season which saw them beat numerous high-major programs, capture silver at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association championships and place 32nd at the NCAA Championship. Over the year the Eagles placed first in 58 races and set 12 program records.