Lehigh University Athletics
Women’s Swimming Tabbed Fourth In Patriot League Preseason Poll
10/2/2015 10:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's swimming and diving team has been picked fourth in this year's Patriot League Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Friday. Lehigh took home fourth place at last year's Patriot League Championships and captured one individual title. The preseason poll is voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Navy received 18 first place votes in this year's poll and 162 points overall for a first place prediction, while Bucknell was picked second, grabbing 134 points and two first place votes. Lehigh's opening day opponent, Boston University, was picked third with 130 points, 18 points higher than the fourth-place Mountain Hawks. Army West Point came in just behind Lehigh in fifth place with 105 points.
In order, the final five teams of the preseason poll were Colgate (85), Loyola Maryland (68), American (48), Lafayette (38) and Holy Cross (18).
Last season, Lehigh finished fourth at the Patriot League Championships, where the team set seven school records including a new record in all five relay events. Kaitlyn Ruffing was crowned the league champion in the 50 yard freestyle. Ruffing also helped lead the team to a second place finish in the 400 free relay, along with Meghan Thompson, Carolyn Koch and Julianne Koch.
The 2015-16 Patriot League Championships will be hosted by Navy from February 17-20, 2016. A two-time conference champion, Ruffing returns for her junior season, along with senior Courtney Patterson, who won the league's 400 yard IM as a sophomore in 2014 and placed third in the same event last season. Senior Carolyn Koch also returns after posting eight top-three performances at the league championships in freestyle events over the past three years. Overall, the team returns six all-league performers from a season ago, including all four first-team selections in Koch, Patterson, Ruffing and Cora Summerfield.
The Mountain Hawks will welcome Boston University to Jacobs Pool for a dual meet next Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. for its season opener.
Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
Navy received 18 first place votes in this year's poll and 162 points overall for a first place prediction, while Bucknell was picked second, grabbing 134 points and two first place votes. Lehigh's opening day opponent, Boston University, was picked third with 130 points, 18 points higher than the fourth-place Mountain Hawks. Army West Point came in just behind Lehigh in fifth place with 105 points.
In order, the final five teams of the preseason poll were Colgate (85), Loyola Maryland (68), American (48), Lafayette (38) and Holy Cross (18).
Last season, Lehigh finished fourth at the Patriot League Championships, where the team set seven school records including a new record in all five relay events. Kaitlyn Ruffing was crowned the league champion in the 50 yard freestyle. Ruffing also helped lead the team to a second place finish in the 400 free relay, along with Meghan Thompson, Carolyn Koch and Julianne Koch.
The 2015-16 Patriot League Championships will be hosted by Navy from February 17-20, 2016. A two-time conference champion, Ruffing returns for her junior season, along with senior Courtney Patterson, who won the league's 400 yard IM as a sophomore in 2014 and placed third in the same event last season. Senior Carolyn Koch also returns after posting eight top-three performances at the league championships in freestyle events over the past three years. Overall, the team returns six all-league performers from a season ago, including all four first-team selections in Koch, Patterson, Ruffing and Cora Summerfield.
The Mountain Hawks will welcome Boston University to Jacobs Pool for a dual meet next Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. for its season opener.
Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
| Team (# of first place votes) | Points |
| 1. Navy (18) | 162 |
| 2. Bucknell (2) | 134 |
| 3. Boston U. | 130 |
| 4. LEHIGH | 112 |
| 5. Army West Point | 105 |
| 6. Colgate | 85 |
| 7. Loyola | 68 |
| 8. American | 48 |
| 9. Lafayette | 38 |
| 10. Holy Cross | 18 |
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
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