Eastern’s swim team backed up its words with its performance last weekend. The Panthers proved Millikin wasn’t much of a test as both men and women’s teams won easily.

Now, Valparaiso comes to Charleston at 2 p.m. Saturday and may be the first real test since winter break.

“There’s no question,” head coach Ray Padovan said. “Valparaiso is a conference team and they’re going to be at the conference championship with us.”

The last time the Panthers faced their Mid-Continent Conference opponent was at the House of Champions tournament in early December. In that meet, the Crusaders women’s team finished fifth out of six teams. The men finished last out of five teams at the same meet.

Padovan said he thinks that the women’s team will probably have the most trouble against Valparaiso.

“I can see the women’s meet being real close,” he said.

Eastern assistant coach Kim Fischer agreed.

“It seems like most of the team’s we go against have more depth on the women’s team, not saying our women’s team isn’t strong,” she said.

This will be Eastern’s first dual meet at home since Oct. 20 and the first time in Lantz Natatorium since the Panther Invitational on Nov. 4.

“It’s always nice to be home,” Padovan said. “You don’t have to travel to another pool. It’s a little more work for the coaches, but it’s always nice to be home from my standpoint.”