Women's Swimming and Diving | October 20, 2017

PHILADELPHIA – The women's swimming and diving team is set to begin its 2017-18 campaign on Friday at the annual Philly Relays. The event kicks off at 5:00 PM at Kirk Pool in the TruMark Financial Center.

This season, the Explorers look to keep progressing in a competitive Atlantic 10 Conference.

"We want to be in a situation where success is the benefit of everything we do," said men's and women's swimming and diving coach Jamie Platt, "It's about being in a situation where we can send these girls home with the satisfaction of 'job well done.'"

Platt, a product of La Salle swimming and diving, is entering his 16^th year with the program.

The women's team welcomes many fresh faces and also returns some strong swimmers from a year ago, including two new record holders. Olivia DiStefano, a junior, broke the school record for the 100 back while Hannah Elliott, a senior, did the same in the 200 back.

"We have a really young team and a small team," said Elliott. "So it's really up to us to work well together."

Elliott is one of seven seniors on the team. Along with Rory Kearns, Maddy Koelsch, Alison McDonough, Natalie Simunek, and Sydney Szopo, the seniors are expected to step into a leadership role to guide the strong crew of underclassmen.

"Every year we get closer [as a group]," said Szopo. "Everyone has their own little quirks and it just works really well."

Following the Philly Relays, the team travels across town for a tri-meet with Drexel and Villanova before previewing the site of the Atlantic 10 Championships in a penta-meet at the end of October. In November, the Explorers will head to the Bucknell Invitiational where they will face some of the stiffest competition in the region. After a hiatus, the team returns to action in January for meets with Loyola (Md.), Fordham, Richmond, Arcadia, and Mount St. Mary's. The Atlantic 10 Championships, which take place in Geneva, Ohio, are held on February 14-17.