NAIA RELEASE
 

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Freshman Lisa Tixier has the first of what could be many national honors under her belt. She was named the NAIA Women's Swimmer of the Month on Wednesday afternoon.
 
This is the first national swimmer of the month award of the season and encompasses performances from the beginning of the season in October through the beginning of January.
 
Tixier has gotten off to a fabulous start to her career at Biola, placing first in 13 of her 19 individual swims this season and hitting the national qualifying standard in 18 of the 19 swims.
 
"I am very excited for Lisa. She's worked very hard this year and deserves this honor," said Head Coach Eddie Shepard. "I'm impressed by how she was able to come in and right away was ready to compete. A lot of times freshmen have a difficult time with the pressures of collegiate swimming, but Lisa has done a fantastic job of jumping right in."
 
Tixier is the second Biola swimmer to win the initial NAIA Swimmer of the Month award in a season. Her sister, Christine Tixier, was awarded the same honor at the beginning of last season.
 
She is just six meets into her collegiate career, but Tixier has made an immediate impact on the Biola Swim and Dive record book. At the Eagles' last meet of the fall semester the freshman swam a 4:29.37 to set a new record in the 400-Individual Medley. In that very same meet she was a part of new school records in the 400-freestyle and 200-medley relays.
 
She will be faced with a decision when the time comes to choose events at the national championship meet, as she's already qualified herself in eight different individual events, including individual freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley races.
 
Tixier and her teammates resume their schedule with a dual meet against Fresno Pacific, Concordia and California Baptist at SPLASH! Aquatic Center on Jan. 31.