Beating Saint Louis’ swim teams earlier this season was the first victory for Eastern over the Billikins in six years.

For round two, the Panthers hope once again to pounce their rivals at noon Saturday in Padovan Pool in their final tune up before the Summit League championships. During the Nov. 20 meet at Saint Louis, the men’s team (5-2) won 114-107 and the women (4-3) won 124-94.

“We had a real good meet with them at their place in November,” Eastern head coach Matt Bos said. “The guys meet came down to the last relay. The girls jumped up on them early in the meet and held on.”

This time, Bos said Saint Louis is a better team since its last face-off, so it’s a different match-up.

“It’s going to be a really tough competition going into our last couple weeks,” Bos said. “One, we are trying to prepare for our conference championships, but at the same time, we have a really tough meet ahead of us. I expect people to go out and compete very hard and pick up some wins and have a close meet.”

Senior swimmer Kellie Logterman said the Panthers want to gain another victory.

“I think everyone is going out there and do their best and hopefully beat them again,” Logterman said.

This meet also comes during the swim teams’ tapering cycle in their training, which begins 24 to 30 days before the Summit League championship.

“The main, hard sets of the week, we knocked it down 10 percent off from what we normally do in the year,” Bos said.

Bos said starting this week, there is a greater drop off in the practice workload. He said his teams did 75 percent of the workload this week and for next two weeks before the Summit League Championships, only 50 percent of a workout.

The tapering cycle, Logterman said, helps out a swimmer’s body greatly.

“In the beginning and middle of the season, we are doing hard practices, and our bodies are broken down and sore,” Logterman said. “It helps us feel better and loosens up our muscles a bit.”

Junior swimmer Matt Scaliatine said tapering is key for him. “It’s been helping a lot,” Scaliatine said. “I have a good feeling of how it will help when it counts at the end of February.”

Scaliatine hopes to step up his performance on Saturday. “I need to keep working on technique and working on turns,” Scaliatine said.

“Hopefully, we will get another victory that will preview (our success) at conference.”

There will be a pre-meet ceremony for the six senior swimmers. They are Logterman, Laura Nilsen, Sarah Jones, Lauren Scotts, Lauren Zillmer and Brian Strole.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected]