After months of training in the pool and on dry land, it is time for the University of Evansville women’s swimming and diving team to give it everything they got as the Purple Aces travel to Carbondale, Illinois, for the Missouri Valley Conference Championships February 11-13.

“I’m hoping that we have a lot of fun this weekend,” said Evansville head coach Rickey Perkins. “We have had an incredible season. The girls have performed so well throughout the season. We are just going to make this party. We have no pressure on us and nothing to lose. That’s the way we want to look at it—as a celebration of the season.”

The women’s team has much to celebrate after the 2009-2010 season, as the Aces took home six wins or first-place finishes this year. UE also qualified for Zone Diving Championships with freshman Sadie Wells and junior Jennifer Childers. Wells broke the school record for both diving boards as well this season. Freshman Michea Reinitz is also tied for the fastest time in the 100 butterfly in the MVC at 57.02.

“We just need to be a team, have fun, compete with our hearts and have lots of enthusiasm,” Perkins said. “It’s the same thing we have been doing all season long. We just need to keep rolling.”

UE’s athletics site, GoPurpleAces.com, will feature insight from the MVC Championships, as sophomore Alex Howard will keep Aces fans updated with what the team is doing and her thoughts on the trip.