The University of Evansville men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will make their home debuts this weekend at Carson Center’s Wyttenbach Pool. The women open Missouri Valley Conference competition with a dual meet against Illinois State at 6:00 p.m. Friday before both the men’s and women’s teams host a dual meet with Centre College Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

“We’re all very excited to swim at home,” said coach Rickey Perkins. “I think as long as we show up ready to compete, we will perform very well this weekend.

“The women’s meet Friday will be a tough, conference matchup,” Perkins continues. “Illinois State is a very good, deep team that always finishes at the top of the conference, but I hope that we make them take a serious look at us.”

Last year, Illinois State finished in second place at the MVC Championship. This week, returner Victoria Alland was named as the Valley’s first Swimmer of the Week of the season for the Redbirds.

“Saturday’s meet against Centre College will also prove to be good competition for both of our teams,” added Perkins.

Last weekend, both teams performed well at Ball State in the dual meet as well as the relay invitational. In Friday’s dual meet, the men’s team took six first place finishes while the women finished with four. Five of the men’s relay teams finished with top times during Saturday’s Relay Invitational. Freshman diver Mallet Reid won the 1-meter board to bump the men’s winnings up to six events on the day. Senior Christina Schmidgall, sophomore Phoebe Hodina and freshman Melissa Thurman made up the only women’s relay team to win an event on Saturday, taking first place in the 1500 free relay.