SWIMMING & DIVING OPENS 2013-14 CAMPAIGN HOSTING JMU ON FRIDAY

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Radford swimming and diving kicks off its 2013-14 campaign on Friday, Oct. 4 hosting James Madison in a dual meet. The divers hit the pool first as the 1 and 3-meter competition at Dedmon Center Natatorium starts at 3:00 p.m., followed by the 11-event swimming portion at 5:00 p.m.

"I'm excited to get the season kicked off, especially in our home pool," said head coach Ian Coffey. "Our ladies performed well last season, earning several personal bests along with school records and top-10 times. I'd like to see us keep improving and building off of last year's success. Swimming against tougher competition this season will make us better and prepare us for the conference championships in February."

A LOOK AT RU: With a full season under his belt, Ian Coffey returns for a second year at the helm of the Highlanders…. Following a promising 2012-13 campaign that saw school records fall, top-10 times posted and numerous personal bests obtained, Coffey's goal is for his Highlanders to keep improving and build off of last year's success… The Highlanders return six seniors, three juniors and five sophomores to go along with a 10-person freshman class… Every single returnee posted career-best times or scores in at least one event… 23 of the 25 top-10 times or scores were obtained by the returnees, 16 of which were in the top 5… Senior diver Skye Hickling set the 1-meter school record (264.07) and recorded the second-best score on the 3-meter board, just six points shy of the record mark… Sophomore butterfly & distance free specialist Sarah Fredericksen returns after a strong rookie campaign… Fredericksen, who finished 10^th in the 200 fly at the CCSA Championships, set the school-record in the 1000 free (10:52.38) and charted the second-best times in the 500 free, 1650 free, 100 fly and 200 fly… She also won nine races and finished second or third nine more times.

2013-14 SCHEDULE – Radford hosts six meets this season, including the annual three-day Highlander Invitational… It will also host five duals which features a two-day tri-meet against Marshall and Old Dominion… It is a very challenging schedule that includes the likes of non-conference opponents in Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Marshall, Old Dominion, James Madison, Mount St. Mary's and St. Francis (Pa.) as well five-time CCSA champion Florida Gulf Coast and last year's runners up, Liberty… RU also does battle against CCSA foes UNC Asheville, Campbell, VMI, Georgia Southern and North Carolina A&T.

LAST SEASON: Radford competed in a tri-meet at JMU last season that also featured Mount St. Mary's… Fredericksen won the 200 fly and placed third in the 1000 free… Hickling finished fourth in the one and three-meter dives as did Jessica Frazelle in the 100 backstroke… RU was defeated by the Dukes, 180-105.

UP NEXT: Radford travels over to Blacksburg to compete in the Virginia Tech Spring Challenge on Oct. 11. The meet features, the host Hokies, JMU, Liberty, VMI and North Carolina and will begin at 5:00 p.m.

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