Swimming Stays At #4 in Latest NAIA Poll

By: Sam Knehans, Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Defending national champion Oklahoma Baptist sits atop the NAIA Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Thursday. The Bison earned all five first-place votes and 30 total points to claim their third all-time No. 1 ranking. Since the program's inception during the 2011-12 season, Oklahoma Baptist has been ranked among the top three in all 10 coaches' polls.

The Bison have placed first in four meets this season and own dual event wins over NCAA Division II Colorado School of Mines and NCAA Division III Southwestern (Texas). Oklahoma Baptist owns the top time in three-of-five relays: the 200 Free, 400 Free and 400 Medley, and also boasts the top individual times in several events: 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 1 Meter Diving and 3 Meter Diving.

Cumberlands (Ky.), which has placed in the top two in every meet this season and is 4-1 in dual events, accumulated 18 points to earn the No. 2 position. The Patriots have bested NCAA Division III Centre (Ky.), Campbellsville (Ky.), Union (Ky.) and Asbury (Ky.), while their lone loss of the season came against NCAA Division I Xavier (Ohio) on Oct. 12. Cumberlands owns one of the top two times in four-of-five relays: the 200 Free, 200 Medley, 400 Free and 400 Medley. Individual Patriots swimmers have also posted the top times in the 200 Back, 100 Fly and 200 IM.

SCAD Savannah (Ga.) accumulated 13 points en route to the No. 3 position. The Bees have placed among the top three in two meets this season, but have lost five-of-six dual events to NCAA Division I Georgia Southern, NCAA Division I Georgia Tech, NCAA Division I College of Charleston (S.C.), NCAA Division II Limestone (S.C.) and NCAA Division III Emory (Ga.). SCAD Savannah's lone dual meet victory came on Jan. 11 against NCAA Division II Florida Tech. Individual Bees swimmers have earned the top times in the 500 Free, 1000 Free, 200 Fly and 400 IM.

Brenau (Ga.) holds the No. 4 position in the poll with 11 points, while Union (Ky.) and Concordia (Calif.) share the No. 5 spot with three points each. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) was the only other program to receive votes in the poll.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches from the NAIA Swimming & Diving Coaches Association and is the second of three regular-season Top 5 polls. The third and final regular-season poll will be released on Feb. 26.

2013-14 NAIA Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll – No. 2

Others Receiving Votes: Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)

^ 2013-14 NAIA Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll – No. 1