SOMERS, MI -- The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams each gained notice in the final CollegeSwimming.Com Mid-Major Top 25 Dual Meet Rankings announced recently by the website.

The Blue Hen men, who posted a dual meet record of 7-6 and registered their highest season win total since the 1995-96 season, were ranked No. 22 in the NCAA Mid-Major Division I poll while the Delaware women, who tied a school record for dual meet wins with a 13-2 record, ranked second among teams also receiving votes and finished at No. 27 overall. The 13 wins tied the UD school record set by both the 1979-80 and 1980-81 teams.

The Delaware women placed fifth at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships held at George Mason in February while the UD men swam to an eighth place team finish. Both teams were led by head coach John Hayman.

The polls use an objective point system to compare teams’ relative strength in a traditional 13-event dual meet lineup. Lineups are submitted by participating teams. Institutions eligible for the Mid-Major designation come from all conferences other than the top eight major NCAA I-A football conferences.

Ivy League champion Princeton finished as the No. 1 men’s team for the second straight year with 191.73 points, edging Patriot League champion Navy with 191.42 points. Eastern Michigan was third followed by Cornell, Oakland, Denver, Missouri State, Army, Massachusetts, and Western Kentucky in the top 10.

Florida Atlantic was 11th followed by Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Binghamton, Southern Illinois, St. Bonaventure, UMBC, Bucknell, UC-Irvine, Pennsylvania, Wright State, James Madison, Delaware, UNC Wilmington, Marist, and LaSalle. Delaware’s CAA opponents William & Mary, Towson, and George Mason finished just outside of the top 25.

Harvard, which captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference regional title this winter, finished as the No. 1 women’s team for the second straight year with 188.88 points, outdistancing Ivy League champion Princeton at 187.56 points. Florida Atlantic was No. 3 followed by Miami (OH), Navy, Eastern Michigan, Southern Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Pennsylvania, and Western Kentucky.

Bucknell was 11th followed by Missouri State, Wright State, UMBC, Denver, UNC Wilmington, Richmond, Illinois State, Massachusetts, Towson, St. Louis, William & Mary, George Mason, Colgate, and Towson. James Madison was ranked No. 26 while Delaware came in at No. 27.

Michelle Stephens (at right) was a Blue Hen co-captain this past season.