Nov. 11, 2008

Irving, Texas - For the second consecutive week, and the third time this season, the University of Houston swimming and diving swept the Conference USA weekly awards. Senior Andrea Pa'lmai was named the Co-C-USA Swimmer of the Week, while junior Anastasia Pozdniakova was named the C-USA Diver of the Week.

Pa'lmai won the award after winning three events in the Cougars double dual against Rice and New Mexico State. The senior from Budapest, Hungary won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:14.18, while taking top honors in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.99). She also joined with teammates Sasha Schwendenwein, Kimberley Eeson and Jessica Shamburger to win the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:30.12.

Pa'lmai shares the Swimmer of the Week award with Petra Klosova of SMU. This is the third award of her career and her first this season.

Pozdniakova won her third Diver of the Week award this week and the sixth of her career after winning her fourth-straight 1-meter competition with 354.45 points. She also won the 3-meter competition with 351.16 points. For the second consecutive week, the Elektrosal, Russia native, was the only diver to break 300 points in both events.

Houston defeated both Rice and New Mexico State at the double dual improving the Cougars to 5-1 this season. With the win the Cougars also snapped a four-dual losing streak against the Owls and improved to 7-1 all-time against the Aggies.

UH will back in the pool this weekend when they host the Phill Hansel Dual Meet Weekend. Houston will welcome Rice, Incarnate Word, Vanderbilt and Florida International to the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center Natatorium. The two-day meet will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.