Ocala, Fla. – Pepperdine swim will be represented by Aliyah Fan, Anna Ryan, Kylie Taylor, and Maile Sullivan during their three day stay in Marion County for the National Invitational Championships (NIC).
"This week is the celebration of a phenomenal season," said recently-named head coach Dan Marella. "This meet is somewhat of a passing of the torch with two seniors and two freshmen. We're stoked to be here."
Pepperdine is set to compete in a total of six events.
Thursday kicks off with the aforementioned quartet competing in the 200 free relay. Kylie Taylor is pulling double duty that day as she also takes to the pool for the 50 back.
Friday will mark Taylor's final collegiate appearance for the Waves (coming in the 100 back). Later in the session, the focus shifts to the 100 fly where Aliyah Fan is slated to represent Pepperdine.
The competition wraps up on Saturday with healthy Waves representation in the 100 free. Fan returns to the blocks alongside Anna Ryan and Maile Sullivan to close out the 2025-26 season.
Live Results and a schedule can be accessed at the provided links or the CSCAA website. The competition will be streamed on YouTube at the Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training channel.
This marks the sixth year that Pepperdine has sent swimmers to the NICs. Fan and Sullivan are the 27th and 28th Waves to earn this honor. Ryan and Taylor both made their first trip in the 2023 season. They are just the fifth and sixth swimmers in the program's history to qualify for the NICs more than once (joining Alexandra Browne, Emily Morton, Jenna Sanchez, and Charli Sunahara).
Pepperdine's last outing saw them take sixth at the MPSF Swimming & Diving Championships in Edinburg, Texas (610 combined points). Highlights included Amanda Wong ending her collegiate career with the platform diving record (187.20) and a career week from Aliyah Fan that saw the freshman play a role in four new program records.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE SWIM AND DIVE
Pepperdine swimming & diving has a rich history spanning four decades, having posted top-five finishes in its conference in 32 of 40 seasons. The Waves have captured three conference championships in the past five seasons, its first three conference titles, winning its first MPSF Championship in 2025 after joining the conference the season prior. In 38 seasons in the PCSC, the Waves saw 48 individual champions and 20 PCSC Swimmer or Diver of the Year awards. Andreea Trufasu stands as the program's lone Olympian, having competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
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