UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 26, 2003) - A tri-meet with defending national champion Auburn and ACC Champion Virginia and a home meet with Big East Champion Pittsburgh highlight the 2003-04 Penn State men's swimming & diving schedule, which was released Friday by coach Bill Dorenkott.

Penn State will battle four teams that were in the top 25 in 2003 and it will host five home meets.

"This is a schedule that puts us in position to shine during February and March," Dorenkott said. "The two words I would use to describe the schedule are ambitious and challenging. The bottom line is that we are giving our student-athletes opportunities to grow by facing tough competition."

The Nittany Lions will open their season versus the Tigers, who are also the defending SEC Champions, and Cavaliers Oct. 24-25 in Charlottesville, Va. before heading home for three meets.

Texas A&M (Nov. 7), Washington (Nov. 13) and West Chester (Nov. 25) will make the trip to Happy Valley before the Nittany Lions head south for an invitational at Georgia (Dec. 5-7), a training trip in Naples, Fla. (Dec. 27-Jan. 9, 2004) and a meet at North Carolina (Jan. 10, 2004).

Pittsburgh (Jan. 24, 2004) and Rutgers (Jan. 31, 2004) then visit Penn State before the Nittany Lions close out their schedule with a meet at Ohio State (Feb. 6, 2004).

For more information on Nittany Lion swimming & diving visit Penn State's official website at www.GoPSUsports.com.

- Nittany Lions Swimming -