ELMHURST, Ill. -- After helping guide his team to an undefeated (7-0) record in duals this season, South Dakota State junior Phil Albu has been named The Summit League’s Men’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week (Jan. 29- Feb. 4) for the first time in his career.

Albu helped the Jacks to a 130-75 victory over Iowa Central Community College last Friday. The Charlie Lake, British Columbia-native won the 50-yard backstroke (24.66) and was part of the winning 200-yard relay team (1:36.65).

Picking up where he left off the previous night, Albu won the 100-back (52.45), 200-back (1:54.53) and swam on the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:31.24) in a 180-120 victory last Saturday morning over North Dakota.

The junior currently holds the 8th-fastest time in The Summit League for the 100-yard backstroke (51.55) and the 6th-fastest time in the 200-back (1:53.29), with both times coming at the 2012 Jean Freeman Invitational. 

The complete release can be seen here.

The Jackrabbit men’s swimming and diving team will head to Minneapolis, Minn., this weekend for the Minnesota Challenge, which begins at noon on Feb. 8.