The UC San Diego women's swimming and diving team continued its dominance over city rival University of San Diego, 210-88, in the regular-season finale for both programs at USD's Sports Center Pool on Saturday afternoon.
UCSD, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II, concluded its dual-meet schedule with an 8-6 record, while the Toreros finished at 3-4. The result marked a fourth straight victory for the Triton women against their Division I opponents, with UCSD now holding a 13-1-1 advantage over the past 15 meetings.
Allyson Cohen, a fourth-year senior out of Cerritos, became the third Triton, all from women's diving, to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., in March. She eclipsed the necessary point total (390) on the one-meter springboard, continuing on from her six initial dives for dual-meet scoring and winding up with an 11-dive mark of 397.86. She joins freshmen teammates Brooke Abrantes (Santee/Santana HS) and Patty Sullivan on the plane to Indianapolis, with all three Tritons eligible to dive from both boards in pre-qualification on March 8.
It will be Cohen's second trip to nationals, having previously competed in pre-qualification in Geneva, Ohio, as a sophomore in 2014. She earns the satisfaction of ending her college career at the NCAA Championships.
"Allyson has been through a lot since qualifying for this meet two years ago," said UCSD diving coach Michelle Casillas. "I am so proud of her determination and perseverance through injury and setbacks. She dove very well today. This was a great way for her to end her dual-meet career, and added motivation going into the championship season."
Saturday's diving was held at UCSD's Canyonview Aquatic Center, as USD does not have a three-meter board at its facility. Abrantes swept both events, with six-dive scores of 245.16 and 252.90 from one and three meters, respectively. Cohen was second on one meter (233.39), with Sullivan runner-up on three (238.04). Abrantes went on to an 11-dive one-meter qualifying total of 417.36, with Sullivan's 386.54 falling narrowly short, but both had already advanced to the NCAA meet.
At USD, Tritons took first place in 12 of 14 events, including both the 200 medley relay of Natalie Tang, Jaimie Bryan, Naomi Thomas and Colleen Daley in 1:46.79, and the 400 freestyle relay of Tang, Stephanie Sin, Dari Watkins and Daley in 3:31.64, to bookend the action. Sin also pulled an individual double as the top finisher in the 1000 (10:25.29) and 500 free (5:06.49). Fellow sophomore Julia Toronczak (Santee/West Hills HS) was the other individual double-winner, sweeping the backstroke races in 58.17 and 2:06.15.
Tang touched first in the 50 free (23.82) and second in the 200 free (1:53.72). Daley was fastest in the 100 (52.24) and second behind Tang in the 50 (23.98). All four times for the co-captains were B standards, but none were season bests.
Sophomore Angie Phetbenjakul (1:06.71) and junior Jaimie Bryan (1:07.12) went 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke, with that order reversed in the 200 (2:24.17, 2:25.33). The last two individual first-place efforts for UCSD came from seniors Thomas (57.66) and Maddy Huttner (2:09.74) in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, respectively.
UCSD swimmers and divers now have just under two weeks remaining of preparation for the 2016 Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference (PCSC) Championships in Monterey Park, Feb. 12-15. The Triton men and women both enter the meet as seven-time defending champions.
"Our Tritons looked strong in their final dual meet of the season," remarked head coach Corrie Falcon. "This gives us confidence that we are on track going into conference."
