Swim & Dive Hosts Toledo to Open 2020-21 Season

Swimming and Diving vs. Toledo
Date	Friday, Nov. 6 \| 3 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Jones Natatorium
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Twitter	@EMUSwimDive \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University swimming and diving team begins its 2020-21 season Friday, Nov. 6 at Jones Natatorium against Mid-American Conference foe Toledo at 3 p.m. Delayed a few weeks from the usual season start time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will mark Eastern's first competition since the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships were halted after the 1-meter preliminary round in March, 2020.
Per Mid-American Conference and Eastern Michigan University policies, no spectators will be allowed at home meets. Livestats will be available on EMUEagles.com, as well as through MeetMobile.

EAGLES IN LID LIFTERS: The Green and White's season-opening matchup with Toledo will mark the 22nd time in program history the Eagles have lifted the lid on a new season against a Mid-American Conference opponent. EMU is 12-9 all-time in those meetings, including an unblemished 3-0 against the Rockets. EMU and UT last met at the top of the season to open the 2014-15 campaign (W, 197-103), while 2015-16 marks the last season Eastern faced a conference opponent to begin a new campaign (vs. Miami, W, 185-115).
In its 44 prior season starters, Eastern Michigan has competed in a dual meet in 41 of those seasons, compiling a 24-17 mark in those meets. The only times EMU did not open its slate in a dual meet was the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons (Miami Invite), and last season at the Buffalo Quad.

LAST TIME AGAINST TOLEDO: The Eagles and Rockets last met head-to-head two seasons ago on Oct. 26, 2018, in Toledo, Ohio. The Green and White came away with a decisive 156-112 victory. EMU tallied 11 wins in its defeat of the Rockets, including one from then-sophomore Meike Staffeldt in the 200 free (1:55.43).

SERIES HISTORY: EMU holds the 12-6 advantage all-time versus Toledo, including winning the three previous matchups between the two sides (2014, 2016, 2018). Seven of the Eagles' 12 wins against the Rockets have come at Jones Natatorium
(7-2 all-time at home against UT).

2020 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP: Eastern Michigan finished in third place at the 2020 MAC Championships and placed four on All-MAC teams. Current Eagle senior Ali Staver earned Second Team All-MAC honors along with EMU alum Sophia Tsafantakis, while Alyssa Shugarman and Claire Young were named First Team All-MAC. Shugarman also claimed both of EMU's individual MAC titles, winning the 500 and 1,650 free events.

ZONE C LOOK BACK: Eastern's diving squad saw four members compete at the 2020 NCAA Zone C Diving Championships in Lexington, Ky. on the first day before the announcement and subsequent ending of the meet due to the cancelation of winter championships. Only competing in 1-meter before the abandonment of the event, senior Bethany Berger paced the Eagles, finishing 15th in the preliminaries and securing a spot in the final round.

HOME SWEET JONES: Eastern Michigan has called Jones Natatorium home since 1982, so it's no surprise it has found success when competing there. At 19 meets, Eastern Michigan currently holds the fourth-longest dual meet home win streak in NCAA Division I. MAC opponents Akron (12) and Buffalo (11) both hold streaks of their own, with both of their last home losses coming at the hands of the Green and White.

NCAA Home Meet Dual Win Streaks

Rank	School	Win Streak	Last Loss
1	Boise State	27	177-111, Oregon State (Feb. 7, 2009)
2	Stanford	24	156-144, Texas (Oct. 30, 2014)
3	Liberty	21	132-73, Gardner-Webb (Nov. 6, 2010)
4	Eastern Michigan	19	175-113, Ohio State (Nov. 14, 2015)
5	Yale	18	196-157, Penn State (Jan. 15, 2016)
6	Princeton	16	173.5-126.5, Yale (Jan. 31, 2016)
7	Michigan	15	188-165, Virginia (Nov. 1, 2015)
8	San Diego State	13	153-147, Colorado State (Jan. 8, 2018, tri)
t-9.	Akron	12	147-136, Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23, 2016)
t-9.	Texas	12	155-145, Georgia (Jan. 9 2016)
t-11.	Buffalo	11	164-139, Eastern Michigan (Jan. 28, 2017)
t-11.	Notre Dame	11	211-136, Texas A&M (Oct. 14, 2017)

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK: Eastern Michigan saw nine entries on the top-10 all-time performance list get added or improved during the 2019-20 season. Joining the list for the first time was then-freshman Savanna Mouat, who currently sits seventh all-time in the 500 free (4:49.64) and fifth all-time in the 1,650 free (16:35.44). Then-junior Riley Hofmann also found herself on the list for the first time, currently ranking fifth in the 200 fly (2:01.02) and sixth in the 400 IM (4:22.53). Then-junior Ali Staver added her name to the top 100 back performances, swimming to fifth (54.89), while also improving her standings in the 100 fly from sixth to third (54.49) and 200 fly from eighth to fourth (2:00.02). Lastly, classmate Alyssa Shugarman posted quicker marks in the 500 free (4:44.51) to move from fifth to second all-time, and in the 1,650 free (16:27.88) to improve to third place from eighth.

ROSTER RUNDOWN: Eastern Michigan swimming and diving returns 21 members from the 2019-20 squad for the 2020-21 season. Swimming added three freshman and one transfer (Lainie Bell) in the offseason, while diving brought in four freshman to round out the roster.

FROM THE WAC TO THE MAC: Joining the Eastern Michigan roster for the 2020-21 season is Lainie Bell, the 2020 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) champion in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Bell comes to Ypsilanti from Northern Arizona University.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern hits the road to take on Oakland University in a dual meet on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. The meet will take place at the Oakland Aquatic Center.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lainie Bell

Bethany Berger

Riley Hofmann

Sav Mouat

Alyssa Shugarman

Meike Staffeldt

Ali Staver

Sophia Tsafantakis

Claire Young

Eastern Michigan Athletics