ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State Swimming & Diving launches their home campaign when the University of Indianapolis enters the GVSU Fieldhouse Pool 1 p.m. Saturday.

It will be a tough early test for the Lakers, who are No.6 on the men's side and No.12 on the women's side. The Indianapolis men's team won the 2023 NCAA Championship and are currently ranked as the nation's top team. The Indianapolis women enter the meet ranked No.3 after finishing as the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Championships. Grand Valley State head coach Andy Boyce said his team is locked in and focused on tomorrow's meet.

"Tomorrow's going to be a big one for us," Boyce said. "We've been focusing on this for a while. We split the meet with them last year. We always look forward to good competition, so it should be fun."

Grand Valley State started off the year with dominating victories against Saginaw Valley State and Calvin University in the first meet. The team swept the GLIAC weekly accolades. GLIAC Women's Swimmer of the Week Lucy Hedley also broke her own school record in the 100 freestyle.

"God, Lucy with the best times of her career last week in the first meet of the year. To see that at the start of the year is awesome," Boyce said. "The sky is the limit for her I feel. Her time last week would've been in the top eight of the national level at the end of the year."

In addition to Hedley, several other swimmers on the women's side have racked up wins in multiple events. Freshman Natalia Hermanowska swept the breaststroke events in her first collegiate meet and claimed third place in the 200 individual medley.

Sara Alvarez and Kelly Shortall are also freshman who claimed their first career victories in the season opener. Alvarez won the 200 individual medley while Shortall took first place in the 200 butterfly.

The diving well should feature a quality competition as junior Maddie Kooistra, who was named GLIAC Women's Diver of the Week, will battle it out with senior Jess McEachern, who won the 1-meter dive in the season opener. Boyce gave high praise for both of the victorious divers from the first meet.

"Maddie and Jess are two leaders on the diving side," Boyce said. "They'll be right in the thick of things. Hopefully, they'll get two wins for us. In 16 events, if you win eight or more, you're going to be in pretty good shape to win the meets. There is a precedent on winning events."

The men's side will be led by GLIAC Swimmer of the Week Roger Miret Sala. He, along with senior Eric Hieber and junior Matt Bosch, will lead the team in the freestyle events.

Sophomore Andrew Goh is off to a stellar start this year. Goh swept the breaststroke events and won the 200 individual medley in the first meet. Junior Thomas Zoldowski also continues to win in backstroke events.

In the diving well, two freshman scored victories in the first meet. Jackson Rodriguez took the 1-meter dive. Matthew Blommel won the 3-meter dive and was named GLIAC Men's Diver of the Week. Both will be tested this week as they take on the reigning national champion and the reigning national runner-up for both events.

The meet will be streamed live on Flo Sports. The home opener Saturday begins at 1 p.m. Boyce said he looks forward to his team having the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of the Laker crowd.

"I think we'll have a good crowd tomorrow," Boyce said. "We have some local people coming, some sports teams, and some alums. It's nice to have one at home and not have to travel very far. "