Coaches' Poll - No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fresno Pacific (Calif.) collected three four-place votes and 28 points to capture the No. 1 ranking in the first 2011-12 NAIA Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Sunbirds, last season’s national runner-up, return all six of their All-Americans from last season: seniors Danielle Lavery and Lauren Malthaner, junior Stacy Carter and sophomores Katelyn Brown, Sofie Gjemmestad and Michelle Moreno.

Fresno Pacific senior Cheyenne Coffman, the 2010 NAIA Swimmer of the Year, has claimed NAIA top times so far this season in the 50-yard freestyle (23.68), the 100-yard freestyle (52.01) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.04).

SCAD Savannah (Ga.) comes in after the Sunbirds at No. 2 with 18 points. The Bees return six of their eight All-Americans from a year ago, headlined by Kelsey Bobzien and Fanny Vargo, who led the team to 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay national titles. No. 3 Oklahoma Baptist follows with 15 points and one first-place vote. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) grabbed nine points to claim the No. 4 spot and Cumberlands (Ky.) garnered six points to place it at No. 5.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches from the NAIA Swimming & Diving Coaches Association. The second poll will be released on Jan. 31.

RANK	LAST WEEK*	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	TOTAL POINTS
1	2	Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (4)	28
2	3	SCAD Savannah (Ga.)	18
3	NR	Oklahoma Baptist (1)	15
4	RV	Azusa Pacific (Calif.)	9
5	NR	Cumberlands (Ky.)	6

Others receiving votes: Concordia (Calif.) 2; Union (Ky.) 1; Biola (Calif.) 1.

*Ranking is from last season's final poll