FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's swimming and diving team was selected second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason coaches' poll while the Stags' men's swimming and diving team was picked fourth in the MAAC poll as the conference announced the rankings on Wednesday.

The Fairfield women's team earned 129 points in the poll and one first-place vote, just 10 points off Niagara University's top point total of 139. The Purple Eagles also garnered nine of the 12 first-place votes. Marist College also collected a pair of first-place selections which helped the program accumulate 126 points in the poll. Canisius University, Iona University, and Sacred Heart University rounded out the top half of the poll with 94, 87, and 83 points respectively.

Mount St. Mary's University was next in line with 72 points, followed by Rider University with 63 points and Siena College with 62 points. The remaining members in the poll included Merrimack College (36 points), Manhattan University (27 points), and Saint Peter's University (18 points).

The Fairfield men's team gained the fourth spot in the poll based on their 54 points, trailing Marist College (80 points), Niagara University (68 points), and Rider University (64 points). The Red Foxes captured eight of the nine first-place votes while the Purple Eagles garnered the remaining top vote. Iona University completed the top five in the poll with its 46 points.

Canisius University picked up the sixth slot in the men's poll based on its 32 points, followed by Mount St. Mary's University (30 points), Saint Peter's University (20 points), and Manhattan University (11 points).

"Polls are reminders that we are in a competitive conference and that there are teams that are not going to yield a championship to anyone," Head Coach Jake Lichter said.  "We know who our competitors are and what they have accomplished historically. And we know that there are teams that have the same mission of winning a championship and they will be pushing just as hard as we are so we need to stay vigiliant and consistent if we want to be where we want to be at the end of the season."

The Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams will open their 2024-25 campaign by hosting the Fairfield University Invitational on October 4 and 5 at the RecPlex Pool. This year, the Fairfield Invitational will include the men's and women's teams from Manhattan University and Southern Connecticut State University as well as the women's squad from Sacred Heart University. 

The 2025 MAAC Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championships will take place February 12-15, 2025, and will be hosted at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. 2025 will mark the second straight year the championships are hosted at SPIRE.