University of Louisville
ACC Championships (Women)
Kylliainen Named MVP as Swimming Takes Fourth in ACC Championship
February 21, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
The University of Louisville women's swimming and diving won two more golds and finished fourth on the last night in the 2015 ACC Women's Championship Saturday at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
Virginia took the crown with 1308.5 points, just edging North Carolina's 1255. Virginia Tech was third with 1018 and Louisville was fourth with 918 followed by North Carolina State (874), Notre Dame (644), Florida State (577), Pitt (501), Miami (490.5), Duke (478), Georgia Tech (203), Boston College (125) and Clemson (36).
"As a staff, we are proud of the way our women competed all weekend," said UofL head coach Arthur Albiero. "They represented UofL with great class and poise. The overall balance for the weekend is impressive - nine school records, five ACC individual titles, and four ACC records along with Tanja Kylliainen being named ACC Most Valuable Swimmer. We are proud of our progress and we look forward to competing at NCAAs next."
Tanja Kylliainen had three gold medals overall setting three ACC records and was named the ACC's Most Valuable Swimmer. Teammate Kelsi Worrell earned her gold tonight with a record setting win in the 100-free. She also won the 100-fly and earned a silver in the 50-free.
In the grueling 1650- freestyle, Cardinal Marah Pugh put up a 16.42 for 13th and Abby Chin went 16:43.38 for 14th.
Erica Belcher won the B-final of the 200-back in style with a 1:55.82. Ashley LeClair was second in 1:57.01.In the C-final of the 200-back, Hannah Magnuson won in 1:56.38 and Kristina Steins was second in the heat in 1:56.78.
In the B-finals of the 100 freestyle, Andrea Kneppers pulled an upset with a win in 49.2 with a strong finish in a fast heat.
Kelsi Worrell reset the ACC record in the 100-free with an A-cut, school record time of 47.7. Worrell's performance also came just 24 hours after she posted the fourth-fastest time in NCAA history with a gold medal showing of 50.17 in the 100 butterfly.
"But I said that I swam for my mom yesterday and she told me it brought tears to her eyes. I'm glad I can give her another present and I know she's watching online or through my dad who's here Facetiming her. She's here in spirit for sure. Every time out, I just want to have fun. I have one year left and I'm just starting to realize how fast it goes by."
The 200 breaststroke featured the most notable upset of the 2015 ACC Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, as Virginia sophomore Laura Simon outlasted American record-holder Emma Reaney of Notre Dame to post a time of 2:07.40 a pool record. Cardinal Andrea Cottrell was in the mix down the stretch to take the bronze in the event with a 2:08.48.
In the B-final of the 200 fly, Devon Bibault is second in 1:57.40 in a hotly contested final 50 yards.
Tanja Kylliainen chases down FSU's Chelsea Britt in the final 25 and then leaves her in her rear view mirror for an ACC record of 1:53.19. The winning effort stands as the third-fastest time in the nation this season.
"I set really high standards for myself and sometimes I live up to them and sometimes it doesn't work out like that. It feels awesome because we came in here to the ACCs with a goal to have a presence and have a good team. I think we've done just that," said Kyllliainen.
In the final event of the four day meet, the Cardinals touched third in the 400 free relay. The foursome of Kneppers (49.23), Kelsi Worrell (47.39), Ashley LeClair (50.05) and Tanja Kylliainen's anchor of 49.23 combined for a 3:15.90.
