Oct. 17, 2008

PHEONIX, Ariz.--As the 2008-09 season begins, Pitt's men's swimming and diving team earned its first recognition of the season with votes in the opening College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll of the year, announced Thursday.

Pitt is one of only two Big East programs to received votes in this week's poll, as rival Notre Dame was also among the 12 schools who received votes from officials.

Additionally, the Panthers will face No. 12 Virginia and No. 15 Penn State in dual meets, this season, as well as Northwestern and Virginia Tech, who received votes in the CSCAA rankings.

The CSCAA conducts the top-25 poll of all Division I swimming and diving programs each year. The pollsters include Division I head and assistant coaches, who represent eight different conferences and two at-large voters. The 2008-09 polls will be published eight times over the course of the season and the dual-meet champion will be crowned February 26, 2009.

Pitt opens the season at Trees Pool against St. Bonaventure on Friday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m.