Jan. 13, 2012

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy swimming and diving teams will travel to University Park, Pa., this weekend where the two teams will face Penn State on Saturday in an 11 a.m. meet at the school's McCoy Natatorium. The Navy women's team also will be competing against Arkansas during the meet.

The Navy women's team enters the meet, its first since defeating Army for the 23rd consecutive year in early December, with a 6-2 record on the season. The Mids will be facing a 2-3 Penn State team and an Arkansas squad that has dropped its lone two dual meets of the season.

"This is a great opportunity for our team to compete against two nationally recognized programs," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison. "We are excited about being able to challenge ourselves in this way as we get closer to our Patriot League Championship meet. Our focus on Saturday's meet is all about what we can control, and that is the effort and the times we produce in our own lanes, plus being able to test ourselves."

Arkansas placed 32nd at the 2011 NCAA Championship, with Penn State placing 35th at the national meet. Additionally, the Lady Hogs are ranked 20th in the most recent national poll.

Meanwhile, the Navy men's team will look to bounce back after suffering its first loss in nine meets this year. Princeton, the 22nd ranked team in the country, edged the Mids by the score of 152.5-147.5 this past weekend in Lejeune Hall. The two teams evenly split the 16 events that were contested on the day.

"This will be an exciting new meet for our program," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "We are looking forward to trying to improve upon last week's performances as we compete against an opponent who is having a very good season."

Penn State placed 26th at last year's NCAA Championship and is tied for 23rd in the latest national ranking.