The Minnesota State women’s swimming and diving team enters the season ranked 15th in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Preseason Poll, securing 83 points in the national rankings released ahead of the fall schedule. Nova Southeastern claims the top spot nationally with 245 points, while Augustana rounds out the top 25 with 17 points, making Minnesota State one of two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference programs featured in the preseason top 25.
Conference Dominance and Preseason Expectations
Within the conference, Minnesota State sits atop the NSIC Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 81 points and nine first-place votes, according to northern sun records. St. Cloud State follows in second place in the conference poll with 67 points and one first-place vote, while Augustana places third with 66 points. Conference coaches rank opposing teams without voting for their own squads or student-athletes.
Individual accolades highlight the conference outlook as well. Minnesota State’s Savannah Acker has been named the NSIC Preseason Swimmer of the Year, while Augustana’s Avery Lommel earned NSIC Preseason Diver of the Year honors for the third straight season.
Championship History and Season Launch
The Mavericks enter the new campaign on the strength of a historic prior run. Last season, Minnesota State captured its fourth NSIC Championship in team history by dominating the conference meet with 1,166.5 points, finishing nearly 400 points ahead of runner-up St. Cloud State. The squad followed that performance with a 29th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, totaling 14 points at the national meet.
Minnesota State officially opens its regular-season schedule this Friday by hosting South Dakota at Highland Pool. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota. The broader NSIC regular season runs through the winter months before culminating at the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championship, scheduled for February 10–13, 2026 at the Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo, North Dakota.
Related reading