Swimming Voted Tenth in NAIA Preseason Poll

After finishing the past four seasons in the top ten, the Brenau swim team enters the 2018 season again in the upper echelon of teams according to the NAIA Women's Swim and Dive Coaches' Preseason Poll, the national office announced Thursday.

The Golden Tigers, who finished fourth in the final 2017 poll, earned a ninth place ranking to start the new season.

Head coach Nate Rhoads returns 12 experienced swimmers from his 2017 Appalachian Athletic Conference championship squad, including All-America relay members Lindsay Dowling, Alisha Hodgetts and Yanne Toussaint. Four talented freshman will add depth and talent as newcomers Nikoletta Alvanou, Kamryn Carter, Maggie Davis and Meghan Mistric join the Golden Tigers.

Defending national champions Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and 2017 runner-up SCAD Savannah share the first place spot, while Keiser (Fla.) University, Cumberlands (Ky.) and College of Idaho round out the top five.

Top 10 team ratings will be recommended to the NAIA Sports Information Department by a Presidential committee. This committee will conduct the Top 10 rating five times during the season.

The Committee will consist of five current NAIA Swimming and Diving Coaches. The committee will use the most current "top times" as the primary source of ranking.

For the complete ratings calendar, click here.