PROVO -- In their final meet before entering into the Mountain West Conference Championship, BYU men and women diving teams lost in competition against rival University of Utah and top-ranked Stanford.

Head diving coach, Keith Russell, said he was excited, despite the loss, for the chance to compete against the two teams.

"It was a great opportunity for us to compete against Utah and Stanford," Russell said. "We knew that we were up against good competition today."

The Stanford women, recognized as one of the top diving teams of the PAC-10, placed first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. BYU freshman, Angela Nelson, placed second in the 3-meter scoring 240.55 with junior, Aubrey Low, following close behind scoring 237.8.

"Angela is fairly consistent and might be our number 1 hope of the MWC," Russell said, "but every point counts and it is a team effort."

Ute diver, Sterling Richards, easily took first place in both the 1-meter and 2-meter dives. BYU's only senior, Scott Randall, placed second in the 1-meter, scoring 281.85, and in the 3-meter scoring 448.7 points.

"Our divers were too focused on the pressure of the meet, being up against Stanford," Russell explained.

Russell said that the Cougars overall performance was okay, but he stressed that everyone must perform. He is concerned about his divers relying too heavily on the team leaders and maybe discounting their own performance.

"I really want them to understand that it is a team effort," Russell said, "they need to look at it as being bigger than the individual."

Russell has almost two weeks to drive those ideas in before heading out to Oklahoma City for the MWC Championships, Feb. 23-26.

PROVO -- The final action for the men and women's swimming and diving team in Provo will happen Friday morning when the divers face PAC-10 powerhouse Stanford on the Richards Building boards. The competition will be the final for senior Scott Randall, a career at BYU that has seen much success.

The senior from Mesa, Arizona has placed third or higher in every meet this season for the Cougars. Randall leads the divers in individual wins with a total of seven to his credit. The match-up with the Cardinal will be far and away the most difficult competition BYU will face all season.

"Stanford is one of the best diving schools in the PAC-10," Head diving Coach Keith Russell said. "They are very well rounded and I just find it to be a privilege to compete against them."

Both the men and women for Stanford are ranked in the top five teams in the nation. The women currently stand at no. 5 and the men are holding fast to the no. 2 spot.

"Stanford really has a strong team, and their women are especially strong," Russell said. "We are going to do our best and give them a good contest."

The women have seen strong results from all of the Cougars on the roster. The diving of junior Aubrey Low and freshman Angela Nelson has driven BYU to a successful regular season. Low has captured a total of three first place finishes and five second place finishes on the season. Nelson has had an unbelievable freshman campaign compiling seven first place finishes and six second place finishes.

The meet with the Cardinal is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Friday morning in the Richards Building.