CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team will hit the road to South Bend, Indiana, Thursday and Friday against Iowa and host Notre Dame before returning home on Saturday to host Iowa State at 11 a.m. in the ARC pool.

"This weekend is going to provide another set of great challenges for the team," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "First we hit the road again for a tough meet against Iowa and Notre Dame. Both teams have been having strong season and it will be another great test for the team as a whole. We have been working hard in training, but also working on our team as a whole and this is our first chance to get some of our action items going. The coaches will continue to look for well put together races and dive lists and how we handle the event overall."

Illinois faced Iowa twice last year, once at the Iowa Invitational for diving only, and once at Iowa for a dual meet. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini, 174.5-125.5. Notre Dame was off the schedule last year, but Illinois narrowly fell to the Fighting Irish during the 2014-15 campaign, 157-143.

This will be the fifth consecutive year the Illini will square off against Iowa State, with the Illini winning the each of the previous four meets. Last year, Illinois defeated the Cyclones, 164.5-135.5 on the road.

"The second half of the weekend we head back to Champaign and face another quality opponent in Iowa State," Novitsky said. "With the combination of competitions and travel it will be good practice for us to keep working on staying in the moment. The multiple opportunities over the next few days to compete is exactly what we need right now."

Promotions for Saturday, January 14 vs. Iowa State at 11 a.m.

Hawaiian Night! Free pizza will be given to the first 100 fans and free leis will be given out at the meet.

Last Time Out

The Illini fell to Arkansas at home, 179-118 on January 7.

Next Up

Illinois will have Senior Day on the final home meet against Nebraska on January 21 at 11 a.m. in the ARC.