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Sports

Divers head for Minneapolis and NCAA Championships

Figueiredo takes two divers for fifth year in row

By JONG LEE
The Daily Cougar

Being consistent is the modus operandi of the Cougar diving team.

This season marks the fifth consecutive year UH will send at least two divers to the NCAA Championships.

This time, junior Ginni van Katwijk (platform) and sophomore Anastasia Pozdniakova (1-meter and 3-meter springboard) will make the trip to Minneapolis for the meet, which starts Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Pozdniakova has been the most consistent diver this season for the Cougars, capturing four Conference USA Diver of the Week honors and winning the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard at the C-USA Championships.

"We think, with Pozdniakova, we have a great opportunity to win the women's 3-meter title, but this is her first time," diving coach Jane Figueiredo said. "She's inexperienced at this level."

Van Katwijk transferred from Wyoming this season and has enjoyed success while diving with Pozdniakova and senior Rachel Gitelson.

"To be honest, I have always felt that (van Katwijk) has great ability and great talent, and it was just having an atmosphere and an environment which we have created at UH that would allow her to become that much better of an athlete," Figueiredo said. "She's really thrived on that, and having Pozdniakova and Gitelson to train with (as well)."

The most consistent part of the diving team may be the coaching of Figueiredo. In 17 seasons as Houston's diving coach, she has led 23 divers to the NCAA Championships. But Figueiredo credits all of her success to the athletes and support for the program.

"I've gotten great support from the Athletics Department, No. 1," Figueiredo said. "No. 2, I've been very fortunate that we've had some great athletes come our way and put us in the spotlight."

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