CLEVELAND, Ohio – According to a poll of Horizon League head coaches, the Cleveland State University women's swimming and diving team was selected in a tie for fourth in the 2016-17 season.

The CSU women are looking to build off a seventh-place finish at the 2016 Horizon League Championships in which they scored 350.5 points.

Oakland was chosen as the unanimous favorite with 49 points while Milwaukee (42) and UIC followed (30). CSU earned 27 points in the poll as did Green Bay and Wright State. Youngstown State (15) and Valparaiso (7) rounded out the poll.

Eleven Vikings return that scored points in individual events in last year's League championships, including the reigning Freshman of the Year Molly McNamara. McNamara had a pair of runner-up finishes along with a sixth-place showing in the three individual events she swam at last season's league meet.

Three other returning Vikings finished among the top four in an event at last year's league championships. Junior Jamie VanDewerker tallied three top-11 finishes in individual events, including a fourth-place showing in the 100 backstroke. Junior Tobie Zeller had top-10 showings in both breaststroke events, including a third-place finish in the 100. Senior Tori Taffner was among the top six in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events at the 2016 League Championships.

The Vikings opened their season Oct. 7-8 at the Colgate Fall Classic and will compete in their first dual meet Friday, Oct. 21, at St. Bonaventure.

2016-17 Horizon League Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) – Points

1. Oakland (7) – 49
2. Milwaukee (1) – 42
3. UIC – 30
4. Cleveland State – 27
    Green Bay – 27
   Wright State – 27
7. Youngstown State – 15
8. Valparaiso – 7