Houston Swimming and Diving Plays Host to Phill Hansel Duals Weekend

Cougars to Meet Rice, New Orleans, Florida International and BYU in Two-Day Meet

(HOUSTON, TEXAS, October 25, 2007) The University of Houston swimming and diving team opens its 2007-2008 home schedule this weekend as it plays host to the second annual Phill Hansel Duals Weekend at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.

The meet is free and open to the public, which is invited to attend. In addition to the Cougars, the two-day meet features crosstown- and C-USA-rival Rice, BYU, New Orleans and Florida International.

All five teams will compete against one another in dual-meet scoring.

Friday's action begins at 5 p.m., with the 200-yard medley relay, 1,000-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 3-meter diving, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard freestyle relay.

The meet concludes at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, with the 400-yard medley relay, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, 1-meter diving, 100-yard breaststroke, 100-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard freestyle relay.

Fans and media should note that Saturday's meet will begin at 11:30 a.m., not 11 a.m., as originally listed in some publications.

The meet is named after longtime Swimming and Diving head coach Phill Hansel, who led the program from 1975 to 1996, earning 70 dual-meet victories and three Southwest Conference Coach of the Year honors.

A year ago, the Cougars went 4-1 during the Hansel Duals Weekend, posting wins over Mesa State, Rice, Trinity and New Orleans. Only a loss to Nevada blemished a perfect record.

The Cougars (1-0) come into the meet after enjoying a 116-85 win over Southwestern in Georgetown on Oct. 12. At that meet, Cougar freshmen led the way with Paige Bissett posting first-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard backstroke.

Other Cougar freshmen to record first-place finishes during their first collegiate meets included Brittany Copeland and Andrea Kells. Freshman Lindsey Graves swam the opening leg of the Cougars' winning 200-yard freestyle relay team.

Following Friday's meet, the Cougars return to action at 4 p.m., Nov. 2, when they face Miami (Fla.) in a dual meet. That meet is part of a weekend trip to the Sunshine State. Following their meet against the Hurricanes, the Cougars face Florida International and Indian River Community College in a tri-meet at 10 a.m., Nov. 3 at the Miami Shores Pool.