Terps Swimming and Diving Readies for Richmond and Miami
1/23/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 23, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland women's swimming and diving team will take to the pool Saturday as the squad faces Richmond and Miami at 1 p.m. at the Eppley Recreation Natatorium.
Maryland (7-3) dropped Pittsburgh (213.5-138.5) and Villanova (250-102) before falling to Penn State (224-126) last weekend in its first competition in 2009. Junior Jackie Davidson captured the 200 backstroke (2:03.39) to pace the Terps while also helping lead the 400 medley, 400 free and 200 free relays to a trio of runner-up finishes. Other first place finishes in the meet included Jen Vogel in the 100 fly (55.28) and Ginny Glover in the 100 backstroke (56.92). Vogel also took second in the 200 IM (2:06.68) while Annie Fittin also took runner-up in the 50 free (24.07). Freshman Alexa Hamilton continues to pace the Terps in the 200 breast, registering a second-place finish in the event with a time of 2:19.78, just shy of her season-high. Freshman Alisa Kurbatova swept both diving events, winning both the 1- and 3-meter.
"The willingness to prepare and win is showing up in our races," head coach Sean Schimmel said. "I am proud of our swims last weekend because our team was still pretty tired from our training load. It shows their focus and desire to excel at a high level."
Richmond is a familiar foe for Maryland as the Terps battled the Spiders during this season's Terrapin Cup. Maryland won the ten-team event while Richmond took seventh place. The Spiders fell 31 points shy of second place their last time out at the Swimming World's Conference Shootout in New Brunswick, N.J. Alex Helland set two school records at the event in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Katie Sieben won the 100 fly.
Miami, an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, enters Saturday's meet with a 9-5 slate after defeating Central Connecticut State last weekend. The Hurricanes are led by Annika Saarnak and Britta Boesing. Saarnak set a new personal and season-best performance in her first 500 freestyle (5:01.30) while Novotny scored a top ten season showing in the 200 backstroke (2:05.32) in the team's last outing. The Hurricanes are strong on the boards as well, as freshman diver Kelci Bryant and junior All-American Brittany Viola have been very consistent. Bryant battled to a win over Viola on the 1-meter against CCSU.
Following Saturday's meet, the Terps rejoin the men's squad at West Virginia University on Jan. 31 for a dual meet against the Mountaineers. The event begins at 1 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.
