Feb. 19, 2008

PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh swimming and diving team seeks their 29th Big East Championship crown in the conference meet held from Wednesday, Feb. 20, till Saturday, Feb. 23, at Nassau County Aquatic Center. The women's squad enters the week with a flawless 5-0 conference record, while the men are 4-1.

Recently named Aeropostale/Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, senior Jeremy Stultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) will defend his 3M diving crown and his position as the reining Big East Most Outstanding Diver.

Equally, junior Alex Volovetski (Brandon, Fla./Armwood) plans to defend his 1M board title.

Earning their first invitation to the conference meet for the women are freshmen Laura Barnes (Pickering, Ontario/Dunbarton), Katherine Cutrell (Ligonier, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), Emily DeStefano (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield Township), Sarah Looney (Sugar Hill, Ga./North Gwinnett), Cookie McIntyre (York, Pa./West York Area), Kristin McMullan (West Chester, Pa./West Chester Henderson), Mallory Mullady (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), Danielle Scott (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem), Morgan Speece (Reading, Pa./Wilson), Alex Stoddart (Oreland, Pa./Springfield Township) and Caitlin Trant (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills).

On the men's side, freshmen Daniel Connealy (Phoenix, Az./Shadow Mountain), Andrzej Dubiel (Dzierzoniow, Poland/School of Sport Championship), Jason Erdeljac (Meadville, Pa./Meadville), Collin Forner (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), Charles Hauser (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe), Matthew Hershey (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Zane McLain (Red Lion, Pa./Dallastown Area), Alex McLaren (North Sannich, B.C., Canada/Stellys Secondary) and Matt Scherer (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) earn their first trip to the championships.

Events begin Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., with diving event, followed by relays at 5:45p.m.