University of Louisville
SMU Classic (Women)
Women's Swimming and Diving in Second at SMU Classic
October 18, 2014 | Swimming & Diving
The University of Louisville women's swimming and diving team is sitting in second after the first session at the prestigious SMU Classic in Dallas. The Cards picked up a pair of wins in individual events and picked up an upset win in the final relay to hold off some steep competition.
LSU leads the event with 160 points, just ahead of last year's American Athletic Conference champion Louisville with 152.50 points. Southern California (130), NC State (119.50) and Miami (111) round out the group.
The SMU Classic uses an unusual format in the 21 year old event. Each team is represented by nine student-athletes with the institution entering one swimmer in each heat of every event. All teams also enter one relay team for each event, and one diver will compete in the one and three-meter events.
"Our ladies are rocking at the SMU Classic," said Arthur Albiero, UofL head coach. " After the first session, we put ourselves in a position where we have a fighting chance to win the meet. We had so many great swims including the upset win in the 800 free relay. "
In the first event, the Cards swam the 400 medley relay and finished fourth. Erica Belcher (54.91) Andrea Cottrell (1:00.53), Tanja Kylliainen (54.18) Rachel Grooms (50.61) combined to post a 3:40.23.
The Cards picked up their first win as Tanja Kylliainen posted the top time in the 400-IM with a 4:10.89, almost two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Devon Bibault was third in Consolation heat with a 4:17.86.
In the 200-free, Abbie Houck surged into second in 1:47.55 in the championship heat while Andrea Kneppers took third in consolation heat, boarding a 1:48.94.
There was a wild finish in the 50-free as Cardinal Kelsi Worrel tied for third in the championship heat with a 22.92. Rachel Grooms was fourth in consols finishing in 23.51.
Diver Emily Stalmack took fifth in1-meter diving with 224.65 points.
The Cards picked up their second win of the night as Kelsi Worrel took the 100-fly in 52.12. Devon picks up 2nd in the Consol heat with a time of 54.34.
In the 100 back, Erica Belcher places fourth in championship heat in 54.48 while Abigail Houck also gets 4th in consol heat in 56.78.
In the 100 breast, Andrea Cottrell boarded a 1:00.60 for second in the Championship heat. Tanja Kylliainen also grabbed second in the consol, going 1:03.9.
In the 800-free relay, Kelsi Worrell (1:47.03), Abigail Houck (1:48.08), Andrea Kneppers (1:48.80) and Rachel Grooms anchoring with a 1:48.36 combined for a 7:12.27, almost two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
The LSU Tigers finished seventh in the SEC and 36th in the NCAA last year. The Miami Hurricanes were 9th in the ACC and 21st at the NCAA. NC State was 4th in the ACC and 16th in the NCAA. USC finished fifth at last year's NCAA Championships and are one of only 3 teams to finish in the top 7 five straight years.
The final session begins at 7:30 ET and will include the 200 Medley Relay, 500 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Back, 3M Diving, 100 Free, 200 Fly, 200 IM and 200 Free Relay.
