Oct. 22, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Richmond women and Massachusetts men's swimming & diving teams have been tabbed to defend their league titles in voting conducted by the league's head coaches as the Atlantic 10 preseason swimming & diving polls were released today.

Winners of seven consecutive A-10 crowns, the Spiders are led by senior Lauren Beaudreau, who holds Championship records in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.81), 200-yard individual medley (2:01.70) and 200-yard breaststroke (2;14.87) events. Last season, UR amassed 690.5 points while runner-up Xavier finished with 488. It marked the Musketeers' highest-ever finish at the Championship.

Massachusetts is picked second, followed by Duquesne, Xavier, Fordham, St. Bonaventure, La Salle, George Washington, Saint Louis and Rhode Island.

On the men's side, Massachusetts has been selected by the coaches to seize its third straight and 11th overall A-10 Championship in program annals. The Minutemen compiled 791.5 points last year to outdistance St. Bonaventure (567.5). Leading UMass will be junior Juan Moliere, who won four medals at last year's Championship, including gold in the 50-yard freestyle (20.77).

St. Bonaventure is picked second, followed by Duquesne, Xavier, La Salle, Fordham, George Washington and Saint Louis.

The 2009 Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championships will be held Feb. 18-21 at the Flickinger Aquatics Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

2009 Women's Swimming & Diving Predicted Order Of Finish
(2008 Championship results in parentheses)
1. Richmond (1st)
2. Massachusetts (4th)
3. Duquesne (3rd)
4. Xavier (2nd)
5. Fordham (5th)
6. St. Bonaventure (6th)
7. La Salle (7th)
8. George Washington (10th)
9. Saint Louis (9th)
10. Rhode Island (8th)

2009 Men's Swimming & Diving Predicted Order Of Finish
(2008 Championship results in parentheses)
1. Massachusetts (1st)
2. St. Bonaventure (2nd)
3. Duquesne (4th)
4. Xavier (3rd)
5. La Salle (6th)
6. Fordham (5th)
7. George Washington (9th)
8. Saint Louis (8th)