Jan. 17, 2007

HUNTINGTON - With the Conference USA Championships less than a month away, the Marshall Thundering Herd looks to snap its four-meet losing streak when it faces the Miami University RedHawks and Radford Highlanders Friday at 5 p.m. The tri-meet will be the Herd's first home meet since Nov. 4.

Marshall (4-4) will honor its three senior team members - Brittany Csonka (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport), Cara Davison (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) and Emily Edmonson (Chattanooga, Tenn./Girls Prep School) - during Senior Day festivities.

The Herd is 4-2 this season at home and sported a school record-tying five-meet home winning streak earlier this season. Despite setting several new season and career bests, the Herd knocked off Duquesne (187-101), while falling to West Virginia (92-208) and East Carolina (88-212) in its last home appearance. The Herd needs one more home victory to tie the school record for most home wins in a season of five set during the 2004-2005 campaign.

Friday, the Herd suffered a pair of tough losses to Ohio State (86-148) and Northwestern (87-150). It marked the second straight year that the Herd lost at Ohio State by a narrow margin.

"This weekend is another chance to improve and get ready for conference," Marshall head coach Leonard Kraus said.

Former Mid-American Conference rival Miami owns an unblemished 7-0 record. Earlier this year, the RedHawks won its own Miami Invitational, finishing first out of 11 teams, while the Herd finished ninth.

The RedHawks hold a 4-0 all-time advantage over the Herd with a 2-0 mark in Huntington.

"Both coaches do a great job with their respective teams and I look for Radford and Miami to swim well this weekend.

"Miami is a very deep team with several quality swimmers up front."

Radford (4-3) has lost three of its four road meets this season. The Highlanders' lone road win came on Oct. 28, 2006, at North Carolina A&T (115-81). In its last meet, Radford dropped a tough 136-81 decision to the Georgia Southern Eagles in Statesboro, Ga.

Last season, the Herd, which leads the series 4-0, knocked off the Highlanders 153-120 in the season opener at Radford. In her season debut, Michaela Sceli (LaSalle, Ontario/St. Thomas of Villanova) broke the school record in the 200-yard breaststroke. Sceli later won the 100-yard breaststroke event, finishing as the Herd's only multi-event winner.

The Herd will close out its 2006-2007 regular season with a home season finale dual meet against Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.