The Vermont women's swimming & diving team cruised to a 229-67 victory over Binghamton on Saturday at West Gym, but dropped a tight 167-131 decision to Army in a double dual meet to open the 2015-16 season.
"The ladies competed really well today, and our divers really helped us against Army," said head coach Gerry Cournoyer. "We traded the lead with Army until the 500."
UVM divers swept the top three spots in the 3-meter event, led by Maggie Preston who registered 216.20 points to win. Rookie Ashley Branagan followed in second with 182.85 and Gabrielle Logozzo took third with 178.55. Preston also took first in the 1-meter event with a score of 230.80, with Branagan following in second with 185.15.
Haley Gula claimed first place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a mark of 2:27.70, and also took second in a tight finish in the 100 breaststroke with her time of 1:07.73. Teammate Shannon Cowley was the champion of the 100-yard event, finishing with a time of 1:07.57.
Christa Weaver was the winner of the 100-yard freestyle after posting a time of 52.89. The senior also claimed second in the 50 free (24.06) and was fourth in the 200 free (1:56.43), while Lauren Punger won the 200 butterfly by less than a quarter of a second in 2:10.49.
Courtney Gray took second overall in a pair of events: the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.71 and the 100-yard butterfly in 57.77. Fellow junior Sarah Mantz was second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:55.72, while senior Andie Blaser took third in the 100 fly in 58.57.
Kelly Lennon posted a time of 5:12.64 for second in the 500 free, while Dani Rocheleau placed third in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:09.79.
Vermont registered second place in the 400-yard freestyle relay as Blaser, Mantz, Rocheleau, and Gray posted a time of 3:34.65. The Catamounts also took second in the 200-yard medley relay courtesy of Gray, Cowley, Blaser, and Weaver in 1:47.15.
UVM travels to New Hampshire next Saturday, Oct. 17 for a 12 p.m. meet in Durham. The Catamounts' first home meet of the season will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31 against Siena at 2 p.m.
