Hogs go to Dallas to face Rice, SMU in final road competition

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas closes out road competition this weekend, facing Rice and SMU in Dallas for a double-dual.

The Razorbacks are 2-3 in dual competition this season, splitting their last two meets in November. The team has competed in four invites since then, facing off against SEC foes No. 19 Missouri and No. 11 Georgia as well as other top-ranked programs.

Junior Anna Hopkin is among the leaders on the team, setting seven individual records and two team relay records in her first semester as a Razorback. The Preston, England, native has earned two NCAA ‘A’ cuts, qualifying her for the NCAA Championships in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle.

Freshman Kobie Melton is also making an impact early in her career in cardinal and white, setting two team relay records and qualifying for the Olympics Trials in the 50 meter freestyle.

In diving, sophomore Maha Amer and Brooke Schultz continue to perform impressively. Schultz swept the springboard events at the Georgia Diving Invite, with Amer taking third in the platform. Both Razorbacks have qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the springboard events, with Amer also qualifying in the platform.

Rice is 4-1 on the season in dual competition, with its lone loss coming against No. 8 Texas A&M. The Owls have faced just one other Power-5 program, defeating TCU in December. The Hogs are 2-0 against Rice, dominating the Owls 207-86 in 2013.

Host SMU is 4-2 in dual action, coming off a 1-1 weekend with a win over Loyola New Orleans and a loss to No. 8 Texas A&M. Arkansas is 3-7 against the Mustangs, holding a two-meet win-streak. In the last meeting between the teams, the Razorbacks earned a 149-83 victory.

Action at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center is set for 11 a.m. Saturday morning.