Results

Oct. 15, 2011

Contact: Tim Ertle

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Niagara Falls, N.Y. - From the onset, the Cleveland State women's swimming and diving team dominated the Niagara Purple Eagles en route to a 148-89 victory in the Vikings first dual meet of the season.

"We had some great swims and kind of moved people around. Early in the year you want to explore and see where people might fit in," head coach Wally Morton said. "At this point in the season you have the opportunity to do that."

From the beginning, Morton liked what he saw.

Carys Behn, Alice Sommerville, Alex Johansson and Christine Kopacko won the opening event, the 200 medley relay, with a time of 1:50.94 to pick up the first 11 points of the afternoon, but it was also a victory that set the tone for the rest of the day as each swimmer would be a part of another victory later in the meet.

Behn won the 50 free in 24.68 and later the 100 free with a time of 54.14 to win all three of her races.

Like Behn, Sommerville was a perfect three-for-three, winning the 200 IM (2:11.02) and 100 breast (1:06.91) to finish unblemished.

Aside from being on the winning 200 medley team, Johansson and Kopacko were on the 200 free relay team that teamed with Amanda Pallija and Rachel Grove to touch first with a time of 1:42.29.

Johannson was also victorious in the 100 fly (59.81) to stay perfect on the afternoon while Kopacko was second in the 50 free (25.45) behind only Behn. Gretchen Hestley (26.24) was behind Kopacko to make it a one-two-three finish for CSU. Joanna Olsson, fresh off a fine performance last weekend at the Michigan State Spartan Invitaitonal, continued her strong start to the year by winning the 200 free (1:58.44) and 500 free (5:17.80).

Ashley Rossi picked up the other Cleveland State individual title on the day, winning the 1,000 free with a time of 11:06.88.

"It was really good to see Ashley win that," head coach Wally Morton said. "She's really coming around and we're happy with where she is at."

Nikki Kolis rounded out the strong swimming showing by taking second in the 100 back (1:02.92) and placing third in the 200 free (2:02.57).

Kacey Cummings was fantastic per usual, winning the 1-meter (241.65) and 3-meter (262.45) diving events to earn 18 points for the team. Kathleen Chandler took third in the 1-meter (183.60) in addition to placing fourth in the 3-meter (164.93).

"For the first dual meet of the season, I think it was good for us to get back in a dual meet format like we will have next weekend," Morton said. "It's early in the season and whether it be Niagara or Green Bay next weekend, we know most important to swim our fastest times at the end of the season. Our emphasis is on finishing strong, but part of that whole process is learning how to race people and a meet like today helps us towards our long-term goals."

The Vikings will return home next weekend to compete in Cleveland for the first time this season. Cleveland State will kickoff Horizon League competition when Green Bay visits the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium on Saturday (Oct. 22) for a meet scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.