CLEVELAND, Miss. -- After nearly a month off from competition, the Delta State men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to action this Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22.  The Statesmen, who are coming off a nearly perfect victory against Rhodes College in which they lost only one race, face Missouri S&T in Rolla during the first night of competition.  On Saturday, both squads will travel to St. Peters for a meet against the host Lions, Miners, and William Jewell.
 
Friday's events are scheduled to start at 5 p.m., while Saturday's contest will begin at 11 a.m. with the 1-meter diving competition.  Swimming and 3-meter diving events follow at 1 p.m.
 
STATESMEN NOTABLES:

• In the season's first polls released by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America, the Statesmen rank No. 6.  Lindenwood sits just above Delta State, at No. 5, while Missouri S&T is No. 20.
• Freshman Giulio Brugnoni has been impressive in his debut season for the Statesmen.  Recently named NSISC Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com, Brugnoni has already captured three individual event victories this season.  In the team's season opener against Alabama, the Italian native dominated the 100-yard backstroke by over three seconds; his time of 48.71 met the NCAA-B qualifying standard, and marks the fastest time in Division II this season.  Brugnoni won the 100 back against Rhodes College and added a victory in the 100-yard butterfly, an event in which he ranks second fastest in Division II.
• All-arounder Cody Lavoie will play an important role for the Statesmen in both Friday's and Saturday's matchups.  The senior is currently ranked third in Division II for the 200 individual medley.  Recording a season-best time of 1:53.42 against Rhodes, Lavoie won the event by nearly six seconds.  He is also ranked fifth nationally in the 100-yard breaststroke, an event he won in both the season-opener against Alabama and in the Statesmen's victory over the Lynx.
• Mattia Schirru cruised to his first victory of the year against the Lynx, winning the 100-yard freestyle by over two seconds.  The All-American also finished runner-up in the 200 free and was a member of the Statesmen's victorious 200 freestyle relay.  After finishing second to Lindenwood senior Serghei Golban in the 50 free at last year's NCAA Championships, Schirru will look for revenge Saturday in the sprint event.

LADY STATESMEN NOTABLES:

• Losing only two races en route to their most recent victory against Rhodes College, the Lady Statesmen find themselves ranked No. 4 in the year's first College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division II rankings.
• Freshman Lucia Martelli was recently tabbed National Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com.  In her Delta State debut against Alabama, Martelli not only won the 100-yard backstroke in a NCAA-B qualifying time, but her time of 55.66 in the 100-yard butterfly was the fourth fastest ever in school history.  Martelli notched three more victories against Rhodes; the Italian native currently ranks first in Division II in both the 100 back and 100 fly.
• The Lady Statesmen will depend on junior sprinter, Celina Batsel, in Saturday's matchup.  CollegeSwimming.com's NSISC Swimmer of the Week, Batsel cruised to her first individual event win of the season against the Lynx, dominating the 100-yard freestyle by three seconds.  She was also a crucial member of the Lady Statesmen's victorious 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
• Carolina Jouisse looks to build off her success in last year's team victory against Lindenwood, in which she captured the 500-yard freestyle and was runner-up in the 1000 free.  In the Lady Statesmen's contest against Rhodes, Jouisse led the 500 free from start to finish and recorded her fastest time of the year thus far, with a 5:10.62.
• Senior Hailey Leonard is coming off a school record-setting performance against the Lynx.  Her score of 281.99 in the 1-meter competition was not only the highest total ever by a Lady Statesmen, but it also qualified her for the Division II NCAA Championships in March. 
• In last year's meet against Lindenwood, Delta State narrowly beat their perennial conference rival, with a score of 123-120.  This year looks to be just as close, with the Lions ranked No. 7 in the CSCAA polls.  The Lady Statesmen did not compete against William Jewell last year.