University of Missouri
Mizzou Dual Challenge
Women Defeat No. 25 Virginia Tech in Weekend Sweep
11/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving, Swimming & Diving
Nov. 4, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 20 Missouri women's swimming and diving team (7-1, 1-1 Big 12) completed their second consecutive Mizzou Dual Challenge sweep on Sunday when they took down the 25th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (7-2, 1-1 ACC) by a score of 148.50-94.50. The Tigers recorded five wins in three days in breaking out the brooms for the sweep.
"Virginia Tech is a great team and we knew they were going to be tough," said Missouri Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "The women rose to the challenge though and found a way to get the points. Obviously some individuals stepped up, but the team's effort is what I'm most impressed with."
The women established their authority early on, taking four of the first five individual races. Junior Jill Granger began the team's roll with a first-place finish in the 1000 free, which she swam in a time of 10:11.23. Freshman Lauren Lavigna recorded runner-up honors in a time of 10:13.60.
Junior Lori Halvorson rode the Tiger wave into the following 200 free. The Tiger co-captain clocked a 1:51.14 to lead a Mizzou 1-2-3 in the event. Freshman Francie Szostak posted a 1:52.75 for a second-place finish while junior Carly Sullivan took third in a time of 1:53.11.
Keeping the streak alive was senior Taye Patteson, who sprinted to a win in the 50 free in a time of 23.82. The win marked her fourth of the weekend. Junior Lauren Cox tied for third in a time of 24.20.
Sophomore sensation Colleen Gordon then put her versatility on display in the 200 IM. The Texan swam to victory in the race in a time of 2:04.81 and returned to the pool later in the morning to claim her second victory in as many days in the 500 free (4:59.71).
In the following 200 fly, freshman Melissa Jamerson continued her strong swimming with a runner-up finish in the event (2:05.11). Senior Arica Jacinto rounded out the top-three (2:06.14).
Halvorson enjoyed winning so much that she came back for another in the 100 free. The junior touched in a time of 51.51 for the win. Cox repeated her third place fortune after clocking in at 52.56.
After scoring runner-up honors in the 1000 free, Lavigna wanted a win of her own in the 200 back. The freshman did just after clocking a winning time of 2:02.71.
Before the Tigers took to the pool in relay action, Erin Yeager finished the morning's individual events with a runner-up finish in the 200 breast in a time of 2:30.34. Freshman Morgan McCleery took the fourth spot in a time of 2:24.55.
The women capped off the morning's swimming action with a 1-2 finish in the 400 free relay. Cox, Patterson, Szostak and Halvorson combined for the win in a time of 3:29.15. The quartet of Gordon, junior Allie Bennett, Lavigna and Sullivan finished just behind in a time of 3:31.32.
Junior Melnychuk continued to shine in the diving well on Sunday. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native easily won on both the 1- and 3-meter boards. She scored 553.49 points in taking the 1-meter crown and tallied 611.75 points in her win on the 3-meter board. Freshman Abby Zepeda stepped up as well with her third-place score of 495.75 in the 3-meter diving competition.
The Tigers will take a much-deserved break until Nov. 16 when they head to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Purdue Invite (Nov. 16-18).
