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University of Houston Athletics
Pakhalina Named Conference USA Diver of the Week
11/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 5, 2002
HOUSTON - University of Houston diver Yulia Pakhalina was honored Tuesday as the league's Diver of the Week.
It was the first time this season but the sixth time in Pakhalina's storied career that she was honored as the league's weekly award winner. With those wins, the Penza, Russia, native has now won 45 of the last 45 diving events in which she was entered and has reeled off 22 consecutive wins on the 3-meter board.
Pakhalina was the only Cougar to win individual events in dual meets last weekend against crosstown rival Rice and Arkansas. Against Rice, she finished more than 50 points ahead of the second-place finisher on the 1-meter board and was nearly 70 points higher than the closest competitor on the 3-meter board.
The next afternoon, Pakhalina was the only diver to score more than 300 points on the 1-meter board and finished more than 100 points ahead of second place on the 3-meter board with 395.18 points.
She earned the award five times during the C-USA regular season a year ago. TCU's Erin Irons was recognized as the league's Swimmer of the Week. Pakhalina joins teammates Azul Almazan and Veronica Smith at the Tennessee Diving Invitational this weekend, scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. Friday in Knoxville, Tenn.
The entire Cougar swimming and diving program returns to the pool on Nov. 16, as it plays host to Louisiana-Monroe in an 11:30 p.m. NCAA dual meet at the UH Natatorium. It will be the Cougars' third home meet over a 15-day span.
