FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Swimming Team has been chosen to repeat its second-place finish from last year at the 2015 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships, ODAC officials announced Thursday. The poll is voted on by each of the league's nine coaches. The Wasps also received one first-place vote.

Emory & Henry returns 11 swimmers from last year's runner-up squad and welcomes five freshmen to the team. Highlighting the returners is sophomore Allison Fowler (Morristown, Tenn.), who was named ODAC Swimmer of the Year, and sophomore Michaela Nolte (Hillsborough, N.C.), the 2014 ODAC Rookie of the Year.

Fowler was crowned the league champion in the 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley while Nolte won both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke. Both also swam on the 400-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relays which came in first place.

Nolte set the ODAC record in both breaststrokes (1:05.49 and 2:22.81, respectively) while Fowler now holds the league-best mark in the 400-yard individual medley (4:33.74).

Also returning is junior Payton Shirey (Seaford, Del.), who was ODAC runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle and also holds the conference record in the race (:23.91). Junior Taylor Guardalabene (Charlotte, N.C.) returns as well after finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle while sophomore Jessica Richardson (Vero Beach, Fla.) is back after a runner-up finish in the 100-yard freestyle.

Third-team All-ODAC returnees for Emory & Henry include junior Nicole Powell (Apex, N.C.) and sophomore Jordan Greenburg (Cordova, Tenn.).

Washington and Lee University is picked to win the league for the eighth-straight year with 64 points and eight first-place votes. The Generals currently have 24 ODAC championships under their caps. Emory & Henry (56 points) holds a six-point lead over Randolph-Macon College in third (50).

Sweet Briar College and Bridgewater College are fourth and fifth with 40 points and 38 points, respectively. Greensboro College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Hollins University and Guilford College round out the poll.

Emory & Henry will open the 2014-15 season at the 2014 ODAC Relays hosted by Washington and Lee on Saturday, October 18. The first gun is set for noon.

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2014-15 ODAC SWIMMING PRESEASON POLL  

(#) Denotes First Place Votes