BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--CSU Bakersfield men's and women's swimming and diving travels to UC San Diego for a pair of tri-duals Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.

The Roadrunner men will face UC San Diego and Missouri S&T while the CSUB women face off against the host Tritons and Loyola Marymount. Both UCSD teams are nationally ranked in the Division II poll with the Tritons' women third and the men fifth. Missouri S&T is ranked eighth in the current D-2 poll. Loyola Marymount hosts Tulane Friday after a training trip to Hawai'i.

"UCSD has been really strong the past two years," said CSUB director of swimming Chris Hansen. "If we want to come home with two wins on the men's side this weekend, Troy Neklason and Liam Acosta will have to control the diving events, Mitchell Huxhold, Dennis Cassidy and Gabriel Bertrand will have to swim as fast as they have been all season.  Our sprint trio of Fran Cverle, Mitch Wurm and Joao Foresto will need to break down UCSD's strong sprint group. UCSD has strong 200 flyers and breaststrokers which has been our week spot this year.  If these gentleman step up we will have a victory. Missouri S&T should not be over looked but if we continue to swim like we have been we should be fine."

"We have been looking forward to this meet to show the California schools we are ready to win," Hansen said. "However our women have been hit hard with the flu this week and will be leaving some key players home.  We are not going to give up, it just means this young team needs to come together, race hard and go for a victory.  As usual Michaela Paige, Delise Batiza and Nicolette Goncalves will play a big role.  We need Ali Gillespie, Jordan Reed, Jodi Hanson and Jeanette Dove to take control of their events and we could still come out on top."

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