Oct. 21, 2011

Complete Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team dropped its first meet of the season to Northwestern, 199-101, on Friday afternoon at the ARC Pool. The Illini captured two first place finishes during the team's fourth annual Splash Bash event.

"I think the meet could have gone better because I don't think we finished our races or swam our races to the best of our ability," Illini head coach Sue Novitsky said. "We can use this meet as a lesson. If you look at a lot of these races, a lot of them did not come down to huge time spreads. It came down to the little things that happen during the course of a competition. We have to learn how to handle those situations better."

The Illini were led by freshman Alison Meng, who began her career as an Illini by finishing first in the 100 back (58.04) and second in the 100 fly (57.82), and sophomore Jessica Holz, who placed first in the 200 back (2:03.58) and third in the 100 back (59.51). Sophomore Alyssa Toland swam a career-best 5:07.69 for a third-place finish in the 500 free.

"Alison Meng had a great day," Novitsky said. "As a freshman, you never know how they're going to handle their first meet, but she's a racer. You don't become a four-time state champion if you don't know how to race, but she likes to race and she likes to win. She was in all of her races and she stepped up and was leading off relays for us. She wasn't perfect, but she stepped up today. Jessica Holz had a terrific 200 backstroke race today as well. She keeps improving and puts the right things together."

Earning second-place finishes for the Illini were senior Kristen Manias in the 50 free (24.37) and 100 free (53.17), sophomore Cara Chuang in the 100 back (59.32) and junior Kathleen Knight in the 200 fly (2:06.43). A pair of Illini secured third-place finishes in multiple events, including junior Erin Lamb in the 200 free (1:54.43) and 100 free (53.25) and sophomore Erica Lynn, who captured third place in the 100 breast (1:07.05) and 200 breast (2:23.45).

Four Orange and Blue swimmers earned multiple top-five finishes, including senior Torrey Loper, who finished third in the 1000 free (10:29.78) and fourth in the 200 back (2:09.71), sophomore Courtney Pope, who swam to a fourth-place finish in the 500 free (5:07.78) and captured fifth in the 200 free (1:55.13), senior Rachel Japp Joyce, who finished fifth in the 100 breast (1:08.00) and 200 breast (2:26.32) and junior Erin Rodriguez, who tied for fourth in the 200 fly (2:07.87) and placed fifth in the 400 IM (4:36.72).

Junior Alyssa Petruzzello and senior Brittany McGowan tied for fourth in the 100 fly (57.96), while junior Kim Kalenda finished fourth in the 50 free (24.61). Earning fifth-place finishes were freshman Kayla Dlugopolski in the 1000 free (10:39.78) and senior April McKee in the 500 free (5:10.95).

The Illini relay teams swam for second and third place finishes in both the 200 medley (1:48.03, 1:48.11) and 400 free (3:30.78, 3:32.94).

On the boards, Illini senior Britni Fisher captured second place in both the one-meter (278.69) and three-meter (292.97) dives.

"It was great to see a lot of people come out and support us," Novitsky said. "I'm very appreciative of that, and I hope they had fun at the Splash Bash. I thank FOX 55/27 Illinois for being the sponsors for the event. It's become an annual thing, so it's a lot of fun to see it go really well, and I hope to keep it going."

The Orange and Blue return to action against the Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday, Oct. 29 in Lawrence, Kan. at 1 p.m. CT.