Nov. 15, 2007

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland women's swimming and diving program completed their first day at the Terrapin Cup Invitational. Maryland finished the day with a total 183 points, moving them into second place behind UConn.

"Tonight our swimming was very good, and we were able to feed off each other" said Interim Head Coach Jarod Schroeder. "All of our swimmers ended up surprising themselves from their results."

Maryland started off the day by winning the 200-yard freestyle relay. Freshmen Annie Fittin and Blair Cross, senior captain Emily Smoak and junior Yelena Skalinskaya finished the relay in 1:33.97, just short of an NCAA B-cut time. The relay team grabbed 40 points for the team and the third spot in team rankings.

In the 500-yard freestyle, senior Maya Finkler swam to a tenth-place finish in the B-finals with a time of 5:02.54, almost four seconds faster than her qualifying time. Freshman Erin Holmes also competed, placing 13th with a time of 5:05.38. Finkler and Holmes scored 11 points for the Terps.

Maryland had an impressive finish in the 200-yard individual medley. Sophomore Jen Vogel was the first one to finish for the Terps, placing third with a time of 2:04.72 in the A-final. Sophomores Patty DeScenza (2:07.25) finished first in the B-final and 9th overall, while Laura Jojic (2:10.30) swam to a 14th-place finish. Maryland grabbed a total of 41 points to have a combined total of 92 points, moving into third place.

Four Terps scored 33 points for the Terps in the 50-yard freestyle, moving Maryland into second place with a combined total of 132, only two points behind William & Mary. Fittin and Skalinskaya swam times of 23.48 and 23.49, placing fourth and fifth, respectively, in the A-final. Smoak (24.07) and Cross (24.26) finished 10th and 13th, respectively, in the B-final to add 11 points to Fittin and Skalinskaya's 29.

In the 400-yard medley relay. Maryland's team of Fittin, Smoak, Vogel and Skalinskaya placed second in the A-final with a time of 3:47.98, picking up 34 points for the Terps. Sophomore Jackie Davidson, freshman Stephanie Parker, DeScenza and Finkler finished ninth overall with a time of 3:54.04.

Long diver freshman Montana Puente scored 171.45 in six divers to place 14th and earn four points for the Terps.

Competition will resume tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Eppley's Natatorium.