This week’s Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week is Pamela Benitez of Southern Illinois. Brittany Tazzioli of Illinois State has been selected as Valley Diver of the Week for the fifth time this season.

Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week

Pamela Benitez, Southern Illinois, Fr., San Salvador, El Salvador

100-freestyle- 1^st- 52.55
200-freestyle- 1^st- 1:52.13
500-freestyle- 1^st- 4:56.61

Benitez won all three individual events in which she competed in SIU's loss to Western Kentucky. Benitez won the 100 (52.55), 200 (1:52.13) and 500 (4:56.61) freestyles in the meet; all three times are in the top five in the MVC this year. Benitez has now won eight meets in 2012.

Other Notable Performances:

Cecilia Holmes, Illinois State

Michelle Tipton, Evansville

Chelsea Hartman, Northern Iowa

Andrea Uzcategui, Missouri State

Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week

Brittany Tazzioli, Illinois State, Sr., Libertyville, Illinois
1-meter dive – 1^st of 9 – 282.82
3-meter dive – EX – 280.65

Senior Brittany Tazzioli used a first place finish on the 1-meter board Saturday to put up points for the Redbirds, adding to their 179-115 victory over Northern Iowa. For the fourth meet this season, her score of 282.82 is a NCAA zone regional qualifying score. Tazzioli also hit a qualifying score on the 3-meter board (280.65). She is coming off a successful performance last week at the UIC Diving Invite, where she broke a 12-year-old school record on the 1-meter diving board.

Other Notable Performances:

Brittany Weigel, Southern Illinois

Sadie Wells, Evansville