The Saluki women’s swimming and diving team closed out the MVC Swimming and Diving Championships with a second-place finish.

Missouri State won the events with a combined score of 832.5. SIU was right behind with 649 points, followed by Northern Iowa with a score of 615.

Sophomore Samantha Parsons swam well in the events, as she finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke event with a time of 2:15.50 — good for the second-fastest time in school history next to her previous best time.

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In the same event, junior Emma Brazeau placed fourth with a time of 2:17.73.

Parsons also finished fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:04.13.

In the 1,650-yard freestyle event, senior Bryn Handley placed second with a time of 16:47.48. Senior Kelsie Walker placed sixth in the event in 17:03.23.

Handley also placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:48.15. In the 200-yard freestyle event, Handley placed second once more with a time of 1:49.24.

Handley’s dominance in those events earned her First Team All-MVC selections for all three events.

Junior Audrey Snyder placed fourth in the 200-yard butterfly event, clocking in at 2:02.53.

The Saluki team of seniors Mckenna Avery, Chandler Ott, Bryn Handley and sophomore Rita Naude placed fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay event with a time of 3:26.71.

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In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of seniors Avery, Ott, Handley and freshman Abbie Young finished third in 1:33.88.

Avery also swam the 50-yard freestyle event in 23.04, good for a third-place tie. She also earned a First Team All-MVC selection in the event.

Southern’s divers outperformed competition significantly in the Championships and claimed both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive events.

Sophomore Baobao Ji won the 3-meter dive with a score of 300.12 while her twin sister, Beibei, was second with a score of 291.27.

In the 1-meter dive, Beibei Ji took home the event with a score of 299.01. Baobao finished right behind her sister with a score of 292.05. Senior Rachel Williams finished fourth with a score of 269.31

The consistent dominance of SIU on the boards has been noticed, as Saluki diving coach Joy Zhao was named the 2018 Diving Coach of the Year award, her fifth time earning the honors.

Baobao Ji was also named MVC Diver of the Year after her performances.

Both Baobao and Beibei were named First Team All-MVC for the 1-meter and 3-meter dive events.

The Saluki women’s swimming season ends with the closing of the MVC Championships. The women divers compete at the NCAA Zone Diving beginning March 8, while the men will look forward to the MAC Championships starting on Feb. 28.

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