March 12, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou divers Kendra Melnychuk and Abby Zepeda travel to Houston, Texas, this week to compete in the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships. The three-day meet, held in the University of Houston's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium, begins Friday and features free admission to the public. A complete schedule is listed below.
In the Zones
The Zone Diving Championships are a must for divers hoping to make the trip to the NCAA Championships, as they represent a diver's only chance all season to qualify for the "Big Dance." The season serves as a fine tune-up and the time when collegiate divers try to score Zone qualifying marks. On the women's side, divers must earn a score of 265 on the 1-meter board and 280 points in 3-meter diving in order to qualify for Zones. This year, a pair of Tigers made the cut and punched their tickets to Houston.
Last Time Around
It came down to the final day, but everything worked out in the end for current junior Kendra Melnychuk at the 2007 Zone Diving Meet. The Canadian needed a win on the platform to qualify for NCAAs and did just that to earn her bid. Melnychuk had recorded seventh and fifth in 1- and 3-meter diving, respectively, in the two days leading up to action on the tower.
SaskatcheWON
Melnychuk, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, became the first Tiger diver in school history to be crowned a conference champion when she won the platform diving competition at Big 12s earlier this month. Melnychuk posted a new school record 284.00 points in earning Mizzou's first ever Big 12 diving title. She also brought home bronze and silver on the 1- and 3-meter boards, respectively. Her second-place showing in 3-meter diving was one ahead of a 2007 NCAA finalist.
Well Done
Kendra Melnychuk has been nothing short of fantastic in the diving well this season. The three-time 2007-08 Big 12 Diver of the Week now holds all three school diving records and never finished lower than third in dual or invite action this year, tallying 26 wins, two runner-up showings and one third-place finish. Melnychuk, unbeaten in 2008 dual action, took a 12-event winning streak into the conference meet.
Not Too Sh'Abby
Tiger newcomer Abby Zepeda began her freshman campaign on a high note with a top-three showing on the 3-meter board against defending Big Ten Champion Indiana on Oct. 12. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native certainly didn't stop there, going on to tally 12 more top-three finishes on the season.
Zone Diving Meet Schedule
FRIDAY
Men's 3-meter (10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)
Women's 1-meter (3 - 6 p.m.)
SATURDAY
Women's 3-meter (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Men's 1-meter (3:45 - 6 p.m.)
SUNDAY
Men's Platform (10 - 11 a.m.)
Women's Platform (12:30 - 2 p.m.)