Feb. 12, 2007

IRVING, Texas - Missouri diving standout Kendra Melnychuk was named the Big 12 Diver of the Week for meets of Jan. 22-Feb. 4 according to a vote by the league's six head coaches and released by the conference office.

Melnychuk won the one- and three-meter competitions against Nebraska on Jan. 27. In the one-meter she scored 267.97, defeating her competition by 16.92 points and in the three-meter she scored 305.33, ahead of competitors by 15.6 points.

This marks the second diving award for the sophomore from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She previously claimed the bi-weekly honor on Dec. 13.

Melnychuk joins former Mizzou standouts Kristy Wanner and Anna Massey as the only women to claim the diving award from the league office. Last season Evan Watters was named Big 12 Diver of the Month on the men's side for November and January.

Other award winners this week included: Israel Duran Mata (Texas A&M) was honored as the men's Swimmer of the Week and Eric Sehn (Texas A&M) Diver of the Week, while on the women's side, Lauren Bailey (Nebraska) won Swimmer of the Week.

Both Missouri squads will travel to College Station, Texas, next week for the Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships. The event will run from Feb. 14-17 at the Texas A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium.