(Photo by Robert Kelly-TexSport Publications, Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved. By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 2, 2011) With a wham and a bam and not even so much as a “thank you m’am,” the Butler Bulldogs downed a stubborn, yet determined Virginia Commonwealth team 70-62 to return to the title game for the second year in a row at the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championships. Playing before a capacity crowd at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, the Bulldogs proved their trip to the championship game in 2010 was not a fluke, where they eventually lost to the Duke Blue Devils 61-59. In a game marred by poor shooting, the Bulldogs managed to outlast VCU. Both teams shot less than 40% from the field. Butler was 21 of 59 (35.6%) from two-point range, while VCU chipped in a mere 23 of 58 attempts (39.7%). Both teams were about equal from three-point range, with Butler hitting 8 of 23 (34.8%) and VCU making 8 of 22 (36.4%). Shevin Mack led all Butler with 24 points, with Matt Howard adding 17 and Shawn Vanzant chipping in 11. VCU’s Jamie Skeen scored 27 points for the Rams with Bradford Burgess adding 15. In the end, rebounding was the key. Butler out-rebounded VCU 48 to 32 and VCU head coach Shaka Smith was quick to note that fact in the post-game press conference. “That was a big part of it. I think you can’t get out-rebounded by 16 in a game and expect to win," he said. Smith also was critical of some of the easy shots that the Rams missed, saying, “[To] be honest with you, we missed a lot of easy shots, too, that if those things go down, instead of being down four late, we might be up two or four. So there are a few different factors that came into play, but again, Butler was better and they deserved to win." Butler head coach Brad Stevens said, when questioned on pulling away at the end of the game, “That was two really good teams. VCU has a lot to be proud of. They inspired a lot of people, including us. They played terrific all the way through." "We were fortunate to pull that one out," Stevens said. "We had guys make individual plays time and again that were crucial.” Stevens and his Bulldogs will have to wait until later Saturday evening to find out who they will face in Monday night’s championship final. Kentucky and Connecticut will face off in the nightcap at Reliant Stadium to determine the other finalist.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
(Photo by Robert Kelly-TexSport Publications, Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved. By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 2, 2011) With a wham and a bam and not even so much as a “thank you m’am,” the Butler Bulldogs downed a stubborn, yet determined Virginia Commonwealth team 70-62 to return to the title game for the second year in a row at the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championships. Playing before a capacity crowd at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, the Bulldogs proved their trip to the championship game in 2010 was not a fluke, where they eventually lost to the Duke Blue Devils 61-59. In a game marred by poor shooting, the Bulldogs managed to outlast VCU. Both teams shot less than 40% from the field. Butler was 21 of 59 (35.6%) from two-point range, while VCU chipped in a mere 23 of 58 attempts (39.7%). Both teams were about equal from three-point range, with Butler hitting 8 of 23 (34.8%) and VCU making 8 of 22 (36.4%). Shevin Mack led all Butler with 24 points, with Matt Howard adding 17 and Shawn Vanzant chipping in 11. VCU’s Jamie Skeen scored 27 points for the Rams with Bradford Burgess adding 15. In the end, rebounding was the key. Butler out-rebounded VCU 48 to 32 and VCU head coach Shaka Smith was quick to note that fact in the post-game press conference. “That was a big part of it. I think you can’t get out-rebounded by 16 in a game and expect to win," he said. Smith also was critical of some of the easy shots that the Rams missed, saying, “[To] be honest with you, we missed a lot of easy shots, too, that if those things go down, instead of being down four late, we might be up two or four. So there are a few different factors that came into play, but again, Butler was better and they deserved to win." Butler head coach Brad Stevens said, when questioned on pulling away at the end of the game, “That was two really good teams. VCU has a lot to be proud of. They inspired a lot of people, including us. They played terrific all the way through." "We were fortunate to pull that one out," Stevens said. "We had guys make individual plays time and again that were crucial.” Stevens and his Bulldogs will have to wait until later Saturday evening to find out who they will face in Monday night’s championship final. Kentucky and Connecticut will face off in the nightcap at Reliant Stadium to determine the other finalist.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
UH Swimming, Diving Sending Three To European Championships
HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 2, 2010) The University of Houston swimming and diving team will send three competitors to the 30th European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 4-15.
Representing the diving team is Julia Lonnegren and 2010 senior Anastasia Pozdniakova. Lonnegren, competing for Sweden, will dive in the 10-meter platform competition on Aug. 12.
Pozdniakova, competing for Russia, will participate in the 1- and 3-meter events as well as the 3-meter synchronized competition with Svetlana Filpova. The 1-meter event is scheduled to take place Aug. 10, continuing with the 3-meter on Aug. 14 and concluding with the synchronized event on Aug. 15.
Competing for Hungary, Reka Kovacs will be representing the swimming team at the Championships. She is slated to swim in the 200- and 400-yard IM events and the 200-yard breaststroke. She finished second in both the IM events at the Hungarian Nationals to qualify for the Championships and her time in the breaststroke qualified her in that event.
The 400-yard IM event will take place on Aug. 9 and both the 200-yard IM and the 200-yard breaststroke are scheduled for Aug. 12.
Representing the diving team is Julia Lonnegren and 2010 senior Anastasia Pozdniakova. Lonnegren, competing for Sweden, will dive in the 10-meter platform competition on Aug. 12.
Pozdniakova, competing for Russia, will participate in the 1- and 3-meter events as well as the 3-meter synchronized competition with Svetlana Filpova. The 1-meter event is scheduled to take place Aug. 10, continuing with the 3-meter on Aug. 14 and concluding with the synchronized event on Aug. 15.
Competing for Hungary, Reka Kovacs will be representing the swimming team at the Championships. She is slated to swim in the 200- and 400-yard IM events and the 200-yard breaststroke. She finished second in both the IM events at the Hungarian Nationals to qualify for the Championships and her time in the breaststroke qualified her in that event.
The 400-yard IM event will take place on Aug. 9 and both the 200-yard IM and the 200-yard breaststroke are scheduled for Aug. 12.
Five Swimmers and Divers Earn Academic All-America Honors
HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 31, 2010) The College Swimming Coaches Association of America recently recognized five University of Houston swimmers and divers, as Academic All-America Honorable Mentions.
Reka Kovacs, Beccy Hillis and Andrea Kells represented the swimming team on the list, while divers Jessalyn Almond and Julia Lonnegren also earned spots on the Honorable Mention list.
The three swimmers and two divers were named to the list after earning at least a 3.5 GPA last season while also recording an NCAA "B" time or qualifying for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
"Coach Jane Figuieredo, assistant coach Jaime Lewis and I know our main task is to help these young ladies receive an education as well and perfect their sport," head swimming coach Mark Taylor said.
"These young ladies have excelled at the highest levels of both, and we couldn't be prouder. We endeavor to have more reach this standard of excellence."
Kovacs claimed Conference USA Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors following a great season and an excellent showing at the C-USA Championships. She earned first place with a time of 4:16.24 in the 400-yard IM, breaking the C-USA Meet and Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium record and qualified as an NCAA `B' time. The Budapest, Hungary, native recorded another NCAA `B' mark by touching the wall in 2:16.19 in the 200-yard breaststroke earning fourth place at the meet.
Kovacs is preparing to swim in the 30th European Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 4-15. There she will swim in the 200- and 400-yard IM events and the 200-yard breaststroke.
Hillis started her sophomore season off on a strong note, earning C-USA Swimmer of the Week honors in just the second week of the season. She finished the season leading the team in both breaststroke events and moved into the Houston record books at the C-USA Championships. The Scotland native finished with the fourth-fastest time in school history in the 100-yard breaststroke and the second fastest in the 200-yard breaststroke. Her 200-yard time was also an NCAA "B" qualifying time.
Kells finished the season as the team leader in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events as a junior. She moved into eighth and ninth place in the Top 10 performances with two strong swims in the 100-yard butterfly.
Almond earned two NCAA "A" marks in the 1- and 3-meter diving events to qualify for her second consecutive NCAA Zone Championship. She went on to set personal bests in both events and finished fifth and ninth in the 3- and 1-meter events at the C-USA Championships.
Lonnegren became the eighth Cougar in nine years to take home C-USA Freshman Diver of the Year honors. The Sweden native earned third place in the 1-meter and platform events at the C-USA Championships. She joined the team in the second semester but made up for missed time by being named C-USA Diver of the Week after only her second competition when she won the 3-meter and was second in the 1-meter event at a dual meet against LSU, Tulane and Rice.
Lonnegren is also heading to Budapest this summer for the European Championships to dive in the 10-meter platform event.
Reka Kovacs, Beccy Hillis and Andrea Kells represented the swimming team on the list, while divers Jessalyn Almond and Julia Lonnegren also earned spots on the Honorable Mention list.
The three swimmers and two divers were named to the list after earning at least a 3.5 GPA last season while also recording an NCAA "B" time or qualifying for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
"Coach Jane Figuieredo, assistant coach Jaime Lewis and I know our main task is to help these young ladies receive an education as well and perfect their sport," head swimming coach Mark Taylor said.
"These young ladies have excelled at the highest levels of both, and we couldn't be prouder. We endeavor to have more reach this standard of excellence."
Kovacs claimed Conference USA Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors following a great season and an excellent showing at the C-USA Championships. She earned first place with a time of 4:16.24 in the 400-yard IM, breaking the C-USA Meet and Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium record and qualified as an NCAA `B' time. The Budapest, Hungary, native recorded another NCAA `B' mark by touching the wall in 2:16.19 in the 200-yard breaststroke earning fourth place at the meet.
Kovacs is preparing to swim in the 30th European Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 4-15. There she will swim in the 200- and 400-yard IM events and the 200-yard breaststroke.
Hillis started her sophomore season off on a strong note, earning C-USA Swimmer of the Week honors in just the second week of the season. She finished the season leading the team in both breaststroke events and moved into the Houston record books at the C-USA Championships. The Scotland native finished with the fourth-fastest time in school history in the 100-yard breaststroke and the second fastest in the 200-yard breaststroke. Her 200-yard time was also an NCAA "B" qualifying time.
Kells finished the season as the team leader in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events as a junior. She moved into eighth and ninth place in the Top 10 performances with two strong swims in the 100-yard butterfly.
Almond earned two NCAA "A" marks in the 1- and 3-meter diving events to qualify for her second consecutive NCAA Zone Championship. She went on to set personal bests in both events and finished fifth and ninth in the 3- and 1-meter events at the C-USA Championships.
Lonnegren became the eighth Cougar in nine years to take home C-USA Freshman Diver of the Year honors. The Sweden native earned third place in the 1-meter and platform events at the C-USA Championships. She joined the team in the second semester but made up for missed time by being named C-USA Diver of the Week after only her second competition when she won the 3-meter and was second in the 1-meter event at a dual meet against LSU, Tulane and Rice.
Lonnegren is also heading to Budapest this summer for the European Championships to dive in the 10-meter platform event.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Conference USA Swimmer-Diver of the Week
IRVING, TEXAS (October 15, 2008) After two weeks of competition, Conference USA women's swimming has had a strong start this season. East Carolina and Houston both ended the week with perfect records. Marshall defeated Xavier (Ohio) 162-114 and Rice outscored North Texas at Texas A&M 184-109. In their only competition to date, SMU took first place honors on Oct. 3 at the Mean Green Relays in Keller, Texas.
Houston's Sasha Schwendenwein is Conference USA's first Swimmer of the Week for the 2008-09 season after winning each of her eight events over the weekend against Southwestern and North Texas and helping the Cougars to a 2-0 record. All-American and Olympian teammate Anastasia Pozdniakova is the Diver of the Week. Pozdniakova returned from the 2008 Olympics and automatically qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving meet after scoring 307.43 points in the 1-meter competition against North Texas.
SWIMMER OF THE WEEK (10/14)
SASHA SCHWENDENWEIN - HOUSTON
Sr., Randburg, South Africa (Crawford College)
Schwendenwein helped lead the Cougars to a 2-0 record after winning all eight of her events over the weekend against Southwestern and North Texas. The senior swimmer was a member of the winning 400-yard medley relay team that finished with a time of 4:13.03 against Southwestern. In the same meet, she took the top spot in the 50-yard freestyle clocking a time of 25.45, finished first in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:11.45 and ended the meet with a win in the 200-yard IM in 2:10.90. Against North Texas, Schwendenwein won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.43 and the 100-yard freestyle in 51.92. In her final two races of the day, she won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.30 while her time of 3:33.14 gave her the top spot in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The weekly award is the third of Schwendenwein's career.
DIVER OF THE WEEK (10/14)
ANASTASIA POZDNIAKOVA - HOUSTON
Jr., Elektrostal, Russia (Secondary General Education School No. 16)
Pozdniakova helped the Cougars to a win over North Texas in the first home meet of the 2008-09 season. She won both the 1-meter competition scoring 307.43 points and the 3-meter competition after scoring 281.70 points in the event. Both scores qualified her for the NCAA Zone Diving meet. In the 1-meter competition, Pozdniakova was the only diver to surpass 300 points and helped the Cougars to a sweep in the top three places in each event. Pozdniakova was named the Conference USA Diver of the Meet after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter championship during the 2007 C-USA Swimming and Diving Championships. She was a red-shirt last season and did not compete for the Cougars as she trained for the Olympics where she earned silver medalist honors. This is the junior's fifth career weekly honor.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
AMANDA DUNCAN - East Carolina
Duncan helped lead the Pirates to head-to-head victories over Marshall, West Virginia and Xavier (Ohio). The senior swimmer posted first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly.
Siobhan Schuurman - Marshall
Schuurman helped Marshall to a win over Xavier with first-place finishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Schuurman is the school record-holder in both the 1-meter and platform dives.
Angela Wo - Rice
Wo was one of Rice's top performers in the owl's season-opening double-dual meet against nationally-ranked Texas A&M and the University of North Texas. In addition to a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly, Wo also posted a career-best time of 2:06.47 to take fourth in the 200-fly.
Christy-Leigh Lategan - SMU
Lategan was a member of four relay teams that placed first. She helped her team in the with the 800-yard freestyle relay by swimming the fastest time of 1:52.05. The freshman swimmer also swam in the 500- yard freestyle relay winning with a time of 4:29.79, almost six seconds faster than the second place finishers. SMU won the North Texas Relays by placing first in eight of ten events.
Houston's Sasha Schwendenwein is Conference USA's first Swimmer of the Week for the 2008-09 season after winning each of her eight events over the weekend against Southwestern and North Texas and helping the Cougars to a 2-0 record. All-American and Olympian teammate Anastasia Pozdniakova is the Diver of the Week. Pozdniakova returned from the 2008 Olympics and automatically qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving meet after scoring 307.43 points in the 1-meter competition against North Texas.
SWIMMER OF THE WEEK (10/14)
SASHA SCHWENDENWEIN - HOUSTON
Sr., Randburg, South Africa (Crawford College)
Schwendenwein helped lead the Cougars to a 2-0 record after winning all eight of her events over the weekend against Southwestern and North Texas. The senior swimmer was a member of the winning 400-yard medley relay team that finished with a time of 4:13.03 against Southwestern. In the same meet, she took the top spot in the 50-yard freestyle clocking a time of 25.45, finished first in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:11.45 and ended the meet with a win in the 200-yard IM in 2:10.90. Against North Texas, Schwendenwein won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.43 and the 100-yard freestyle in 51.92. In her final two races of the day, she won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.30 while her time of 3:33.14 gave her the top spot in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The weekly award is the third of Schwendenwein's career.
DIVER OF THE WEEK (10/14)
ANASTASIA POZDNIAKOVA - HOUSTON
Jr., Elektrostal, Russia (Secondary General Education School No. 16)
Pozdniakova helped the Cougars to a win over North Texas in the first home meet of the 2008-09 season. She won both the 1-meter competition scoring 307.43 points and the 3-meter competition after scoring 281.70 points in the event. Both scores qualified her for the NCAA Zone Diving meet. In the 1-meter competition, Pozdniakova was the only diver to surpass 300 points and helped the Cougars to a sweep in the top three places in each event. Pozdniakova was named the Conference USA Diver of the Meet after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter championship during the 2007 C-USA Swimming and Diving Championships. She was a red-shirt last season and did not compete for the Cougars as she trained for the Olympics where she earned silver medalist honors. This is the junior's fifth career weekly honor.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
AMANDA DUNCAN - East Carolina
Duncan helped lead the Pirates to head-to-head victories over Marshall, West Virginia and Xavier (Ohio). The senior swimmer posted first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly.
Siobhan Schuurman - Marshall
Schuurman helped Marshall to a win over Xavier with first-place finishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Schuurman is the school record-holder in both the 1-meter and platform dives.
Angela Wo - Rice
Wo was one of Rice's top performers in the owl's season-opening double-dual meet against nationally-ranked Texas A&M and the University of North Texas. In addition to a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly, Wo also posted a career-best time of 2:06.47 to take fourth in the 200-fly.
Christy-Leigh Lategan - SMU
Lategan was a member of four relay teams that placed first. She helped her team in the with the 800-yard freestyle relay by swimming the fastest time of 1:52.05. The freshman swimmer also swam in the 500- yard freestyle relay winning with a time of 4:29.79, almost six seconds faster than the second place finishers. SMU won the North Texas Relays by placing first in eight of ten events.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
UH Swimming and Diving Wins Dual Meets Over the Weekend
HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 11, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team won two dual meets this weekend to open the 2008-09 season.Houston opened the weekend with a 132-88 win over Southwestern and capped it off with a 174-126 win over North Texas on Saturday at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Cougars were led by divers Anastasia Pozdniakova and Lacey Truelove. Pozdniakova finished with an NCAA “A” qualifying mark in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events and Truelove notched a “B” qualifying mark in the 1-meter event.
Junior Jessica Shamburger also recorded the schools 10th fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke with her winning time of 57.57 on Saturday.
Houston 174, North Texas 126
In the first event of the afternoon against the Mean Green, Houston finished first and fourth in the 200-yard medley relay. The Cougar “A” team of Jessica Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Andrea Kells and Paige Bissett finished first with a time of 1:48.68. The “B” team of Rachel Johnson, Natalie Newcomb, Doreen Polotzek and Brittany Copeland finished fourth with a time of 1:55.46.
Co-captain Andrea Pa’lmai won her first event of the afternoon with a time of 10:22.03 in the 1,000-yard freestyle. She was followed by Olga Bordatcheva (11:01.17), Rachel Holcomb (11:49.32) and Markee Johnson (12:18.40) who finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Pa’lmai also went on the win the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:06.35 and the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:34.76. Bissett and Rachel Johnson finished sixth (2:15.50) and seventh (2:22.43) respectively in the 200-yard backstroke. Natalie Newcomb was fifth for the Cougars in the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:47.07.
In the third event of the afternoon, North Texas edged Kim Eeson for first place in the 200-yard freestyle. Eeson finished second with a time of 1:53.12. Newcomb added a fourth place finish (2:00.60), while Amber Pace was seventh (2:09.01).
After earning a first place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, Shamburger won her second event of the day finishing first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.57. Her winning time is also the 10th fastest time in Cougar record books. Bissett added a fourth place finish (1:00.73), while Amber Brodeur (1:06.08) was seventh and Rachel Johnson was eighth (1:06.52).
The Cougars followed up the win in the 200-yard medley with win in the 100-yard breaststroke. Hillis won her second event of the day with a time of 1:05.76. Polotzek notched a third place finish (1:09.99), Kells was fifth (1:12.59) and Borbala Juhasz was sixth (1:19.87). Polotzek’s finish set a new career best for the Essen, Germany native.
Hillis won her third event of the day with a 2:20.87 finish in the 200-yard breaststroke. Bordatcheva, Newcomb and Juhasz also finished third (2:29.24), fourth (2:29.57) and seventh (2:57.27) for the Cougars in the event.
Co-captain Sasha Schwendenwein won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.43 and Danica Lubbers was fifth with a time of 2:19.02. Schwendenwein won her second event of the afternoon with a time of 51.92 in the 100-yard freestyle. Copeland, Pace and Stone rounded out the Cougar participants. The trio finish sixth (56.65), seventh (57.63) and eighth (59.55), respectively.
Schwendenwein would also win the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.30 and Eeson was second with a time of 5:07.49. Rachel Johnson was seventh (5:48.69) and Markee Johnson was eighth (5:54.58).
Eeson notched her second second-place finish of the afternoon with a 25.07 time in the 50-yard freestyle. Teammates Copeland (25.52), Shamburger (25.70) and Anne Stone (26.70) finished fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively.
Four Cougars swam in the 100-yard butterfly for Houston. Leading the way was Kells with a second place finish of 58:84 and Polotzek finished third (1:00.00). Bissett and Lubbers rounded out the group finishing fifth (1:00.93) and eighth (1:03.23), respectively.
Houston ended the afternoon with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Eeson, Shamburger, Copeland and Schwendenwein combined to finish 3:3.14 in the event. Houston’s “B” relay team of Polotzek, Pace, Pa’lmai and Bordatcheva finished fifth with a time of 3:43.56.
In the diving events, in her first collegiate meet since 2006 after taking a redshirt season to prepare for the 2008 Beijng Olympics, junior Anastasia Pozdniakova won the 1-meter diving competition with 307.43 points. She was followed in second by Lacey Truelove with 260.70 points and Courtney Forcucci in third with 253.35 points. Jessalyn Almond finished fourth with 232.42 points.
With their points total in the 1-meter event, Pozdniakova recorded an NCAA “A” finish, while Truelove notched an NCAA “B” finish.
In the 3-meter event, Pozdniakova again took first with 281.70 points and another NCAA “A” finish. Truelove (265.58 pts.), Almond (261.90 pts.) and Forcucci (254.85 pts.) rounded out the top four.
Houston 132, Southwestern 88
On Friday night, Houston traveled to Georgetown, Texas for a dual meet against Southwestern. UH won the meet with a score of 132-88.
In the 400-yard medley relay, the Cougars “A” relay finished first with a time of 4:13.03. The “A” relay team consisted of Bissett, Schwenedwein, Lubbers and Copeland. The “B” team of Rachel Johnson, Juhasz, Pa’lmai and Pace finished third with a time of 4:28:18.
In the 1,000-yard freestyle Newcomb finished first with a time of 10:56.02 and Bordatcheva took first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:00.50
Bissett captured first in the 50 yard backstroke with a time of 28:86, while Kells was first in the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 33.51
Eeson continue the trend of Cougar swimmers finishing first in the 200-yard butterfly, coming in with a time of 2:14.31.
Schwendenwein captured her first individual win of the meet in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25:45 and Pa’lmai finished first with a time of 56:66 in the 100-yard freestyle to take first as well. Schwendenwein captured her third win of the day with a 2:11.45 finish in the 200-yard backstroke and Pa’lmai was once again first in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:29.23.
Bordatcheva captured her second win in the mixed 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:15.86 and Kells notched her second win of the day in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 27.33.
Houston closed out the meet with two more wins, including a Schwendenwein win in the 200-yard IM (2:10.90) and a top finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Bordatcheva, Shamburger, Copeland and Bissett combined to finish with a time of 3:49.88.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Red Team Defeats White Team 168-103
HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 2, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team opened the 2008-09 season Wednesday afternoon with the annual Red & White Meet at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.The White Team, captained by senior Sasha Schwendenwein, defeated the Red Team captained by senior Andrea Pa'lmai, 168-103.
"(This meet) was a really good opportunity for the girls to test themselves against each other before going into competition," head coach Mark Taylor said. "We could see the last few minutes of each on of their races and check the last few seconds going in and out of walls. We could see how the did on their starts and turns and things that we can refine and fine tune."
The White Team started the afternoon off with a win in the 250-yard medley relay. The team of junior Jessica Shamburger, freshman Natalie Newcomb, senior Sasha Schwendenwein and freshman Kimberley Eeson combined to finish with a time of 1:42.40. The Red Team of freshman Paige Bissett, freshman Beccy Hillis, senior Doreen Polotzek and sophomore Brittany Copeland finished second with a time of 1:48.10.
After taking first in the 250-yard medley relay, Eeson followed that up with an 8:23.91 win in the 800-yard freestyle relay. She was followed in second by Olga Bordatcheva (8:38.51; Red). Freshmen Natalie Newcomb (8:51.91; White), Anne Stone (9:52.10; Red) and Borbala Juhasz (10:13.38; White) rounded out the event.
Schwendenwein finished first in the 125-yard freestyle with a time of 1:10.07 and Copeland finished second (1:14.91). Freshman Amber Pace was third for the White Team (1:16.34) and freshman Rachel Holcomb and sophomore Markee Johnson finished fourth and fifth for the Red Team with a time of 1:17.18 and 1:18.61, respectively.
Hillis won her first event with a 1:03.03 finish in the 100-yard IM. Bissett (1:04.30), Newcomb (1:05.46) and Polotzek (1:05.88) rounded out the top four, while freshman Danica Lubbers (1:05.98), freshman Rachel Johnson (1:06.88) and sophomore Amber Brodeur (1:11.08) finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Taking first in the 25-yard freestyle was Shamburger. She finished with a time of 11.81 defeating sophomore Andrea Kells, who finished second with a time of 12.45. Copeland finished third in her third event of the after noon with a time of 12.46. Polotek, Pace and senior Andrea Pa'lmai closed out the event with times of 12.73, 12.95 and 13.07.
The White Team took its second relay title of the afternoon. Lubbers, Kells, Newcomb and Eeson combined to finish with a time of 4:55.56. The red team of Hillis, Holcomb, Bordatcheva and Stone finished second with a time of 5:00.19. The White Team had a second relay team that finished third with a time of 5:21.81. Members of the relay included Brodeur, Pace, Juhasz and Rachel Johnson.
In the 75-yard butterfly event, the White team finished first and second. Schwendenwein captured first with a time of 42.89, while Kells took second with a time of 43.18. Polotzek finished third with a time of 45.82 and Copeland was fourth (48.78).
Eeson posted a time of 39.69 in the 75-yard freestyle, capturing her fourth win of the meet. Shamburger finished close behind with a time of 39.72. Bordatcheva, with a time of 42.32, finished third. Markee Johnson (43.53), Stone (44.42), and Juhasz (49.91) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Schwendenwein captured her third win, after posting a time of 44.11 in the 75-yard backstroke. She was followed by second-place finisher Shamburger (44.12), while Bissett took third with a time of 45.85. Rachel Johnson placed fourth with a time of 48.53. Pa'lmai took fifth (51.85) and Markee Johnson took sixth (52.39). Holcomb finished in the seventh spot with a time of 55.25.
Eeson won her fifth event, clocking a time of 3:33.18 in the 350-yard freestyle. Hillis followed in second with a time of 3:36.59, while Lubbers took the third spot, posting a time of 3:52.13. Holcomb (3:57.76) was fourth position and Pace (4:10.02) finished fifth.
Hillis won her second event of the meet after posting a time of 48.92 in the 75-yard breaststroke. Bordatcheva finished second with a time of 52.90 and Kells clocked a time of 53.11, finishing third on the event. Newcomb (53.24), Juhasz (57.06) and Stone (1:02.66) placed fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
In the 300-yard IM, Bissett (3:33.64) finished first, Lubbers (3:36.09) finished second and Rachel Johnson (3:51.48) placed third.
The final event, the 300-yard freestyle relay, the White Team of Shamburger, Lubbers, Kells and Schwendenwein finished first, posting a time of 2:46.34. The Red Team of Polotzek, Holcomb, Markee Johnson and Bissett finished second with a time of 2:50.40. The Red B Team finished third (3:00.90) and the White B Team finished fourth (3:.04.30).
In the 1-meter diving event, sophomore Lacey Truelove finished first for the White Team. Sophomore Courtney Forcucci placed second, while freshman Jessalyn Almond took third.
Junior Anastasia Pozdniakova finished first in 3-meter diving for the White Team. Forcucci took second, while Truelove captured third and Almond finished fourth.
"Some people really stepped up today and raced well today against their friends. The competition was fierce against each other and you could see it was a really good competition," Taylor said. "The girls did a good job and we are excited and looking forward to this weekend."
UP NEXT
Houston will travel to Keller, Texas for the Second Annual North Texas Relays on Oct. 3. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6pm. The Cougars will also compete in a dual against Southwester on Oct. 10 before returning to Houston for a dual against North Texas on Oct. 11.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Cougars To Kick Off Season This Afternoon
HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 1, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team will open the 2008-09 season Wednesday with the annual Red and White Meet at 3pm.The intrasquad meet is the annual opening to the season and will take place at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium. The meet is free and open to the public.
Senior Andrea Pa'lmai will captain the Red Team. She will compete with senior Doreen Polotzek, sophomores Markee Johnson, Brittany Copeland, Paige Bissett and Courtney Forcucci. Freshmen Beccy Hillis, Olga Bordatcheva, Anne Stone, Rachel Holcomb, Jessalyn Almond and Rachel Erickson will complete the team.
On the White Team, guided by senior Sasha Swendenwein, will be juniors Anastasia Pozdniakova and Jessica Shamburger, sophomores Andrea Kells, Amber Brodeur and Lacey Truelove and freshmen Kimberlee Eeson, Natalie Newcomb, Borbala Juhasz, Amber Pace, Danica Lubbers and Rachel Johnson.
The meet will consist of 15 events and each swimmer will compete in three individual events and two relays while the divers will compete in two individual events and one relay.
A complete recap of the meet will be available at www.UHCougars.com following the day's events.
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