The Tulane University Green Wave washed over Vanderbilt University in their home opener Saturday at the Reily Center Natatorium. The Green Wave women won 182-111 over Vanderbilt.
Tulane Press Release:
The Tulane swimming and diving team picked up a 182-111 victory in its home opener against the Vanderbilt Commodores Saturday afternoon at the Reily Center Natatorium. The squad claimed 11 first-places finishes at the meet.
“Overall, I think we did a very good job as a team,” head coach Katie Robinson said. “This is a team that we have been swimming against for many years in a row, and it’s good to protect our house today. We came away with some great swims, and even if we didn’t get first place in the event, we were going so fast today, giving us a lot better improvement in our times. So, as a coach, I’m very happy with this team’s performance. This spirit with this team is very high, and we’ve got a lot of momentum on our side to move into the rest of the season.”
Tulane was again dominant in relay action, opening and closing the meet with top finishes. Shelly Zelnick, Mia Schachter, Ellie Sills and Paris Zhang got things going for the Green Wave finishing the 200 medley relay in 1:44.00. To close out the meet, Zhang, Zelnick, Emma Lincolnand Schachter notched another No. 1 finish in the 400 free relay.
Natalie Clausen helped keep the momentum going for the Green Wave following the relay when she finished first in the 1000 free (10:17.57), and Roni Meyer added a third-place finish (10:41.99) in the same event. Clausen later notched another top finish, claiming the 500 free in 5:04.02.
Tulane took places 2-5 in the 200 free, led by Alex Lakota (1:54.50), before Zelnick and Zhang continued to shine in their debut seasons. Zelnick claimed the 100 back (56.47) and 200 back (2:03.78), while Zhang finished first in the 50 free (24.19) and second behind school record holder, Schachter, in the 100 free (51.79).
Schachter’s top finish in the 100 free (51.65) was her second of the day, after claiming the 100 breast (1:02.69). She was followed by Joy Jason, who placed third (1:05.27). Jason also added a second-place finish in the 200 breast event (2:22.81).
Ellie Sills continued her success in the butterfly, finishing second in the 200 fly (2:02.65) and 100 fly (56.18). Holly Grender also added a pair of second-place finishes for the Green Wave, notching a time of 2:04.87 in the 200 back, and 4:30.04 in the 400 IM.
Tulane added a great edge in diving, sweeping the events. Senior Lauren Arnold claimed the top spot in both the 1-meter (294.97) and 3-meter (303.45) events.
The Green Wave will take two weeks away from competition, but remain at home when they return to action, hosting SMU on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.
Vanderbilt Press Release:
The Vanderbilt swim team traveled down New Orleans to take on the Tulane Green Wave, two teams who have always competed well against one another. While the `Dores swam hard, the squad came up just short falling to the Green Wave 186-111.
“Although we didn’t come out with a team win I am really happy with how we performed today,” said head coach Jeremy Organ. “We knew what we were coming into and I think the girls responded well.”
Led by sophomore Kara Lucenti, the Dores earned five first place finishes. Lucenti, a native of Kenilworth, Ill., showed up for the black and gold in the 200 breast (2:20.02) swimming in almost two and a half seconds before her next competitor, as well as the 400 IM (4:29.68).
“We had some really strong swims today from Kara (Lucenti), she really battled throughout the meet for her wins.”
Summer Brown, Rachel Koch and Breanna Sapienza picked up the Commodores addition three wins.
Brown, the current Vanderbilt Freshman record holder in the 200 free, kept up her tradition of excellence in the event, with a 1:53.21 first-place time. Koch followed, generating nine points for the squad with a 2:02.45 in the 200 fly. Sapienza wrapped up the first place finishes for the `Dores, swimming in at a 55.34 in the100-yard fly.
Vanderbilt gained additional points, taking second and third in the 200 medley relay, 100 back and 500 free.
VU takes a little time away from competition, and head back out on the road against Campbell University on Nov. 14th.
