DURHAM, N.C. – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released its first top 25 poll of the season Wednesday, with the Duke women starting the year as the 22nd-ranked team in the country.
The Blue Devil women were represented among the nation’s top 25 teams after finishing tied for 42nd at the 2017 NCAA Championships. That finish marked the highest for the women’s program since 2011.
Among Duke’s returning NCAA qualifiers are junior diver Jaina Gaudette, who placed 22nd in the platform preliminaries last spring. Seniors Hunter Aitchison and Maddie Hess and junior Alyssa Marsh also return after joining 2018 graduate and honorable mention All-American Leah Goldman on the school record-breaking 400-yard freestyle relay that came in 17th in preliminaries.