Rutgers University
Penn State
Swimming and Diving Opens Inaugural #B1G Meet Against Penn State
Jan 16 | Women's Swimming & Diving
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Jan. 16, 2015) - Securing a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay to start the meet and a 1-2-3 showing in the 3-meter dive, the Rutgers women's swimming and diving team opened its inaugural Big Ten meet against Penn State on Friday night at the RU Aquatics Center.
Despite RU's four first-place finishes, the Nittany Lions hold a 111-74 edge over the Scarlet Knights heading into tomorrow's session.
Rutgers kicked off the night with a huge victory in the 400 medley relay. The quartet of Joanna Wu (Kent, Wash.), Greta Leberfinger (Chatham, N.J.), Morgan Pfaff (Red Lion, Pa.), and Sarah Coyne (Osceola, Ind.) hit the wall at 3:44.84 to top the field, holding off Penn State's group with its touch at 3:45.31.
Penn State responded by claiming the top-three finishes of the 200 freestyle, but Wu returned the momentum to RU, placing first in the 100 backstroke(55.80).
The Scarlet Knights' showed its strength in the 100 breaststroke event as Leberfinger placed first with a season-high time of 1:03.41. Sophomore Rachel Stoddard (Hillsborough, N.J.) followed in second, registering a season-high of her own at 1:03.94.
On the boards, the Big Ten Freshman of the Week and ECAC Co-Diver of the Week, Addison Walkowiak (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), registered a career-best 321.50 to notch first in the event. Sophomore Alyssa Black (Middletown, N.Y.) followed in second with a season-high score of 263.70, while freshman Morgan Engel (Mound, Minn.) rounded out the leaderboard for RU with a third-place mark of 229.15.
Penn State went on to capture the top-three spots in the 50 free and the 1000 free to gain the edge over Rutgers heading into day two of competition.
RU and PSU return to the pool tomorrow at 11 a.m. The session will be streamed live on RVision.
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