University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Villanova
Five Wins Highlight Spiders Home Meet on Senior Day
01/30/2016 | Women's Swimming & Diving
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Irina Chiulli broke a pair of school records in the Richmond Swimming & Diving team's final preparation before the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship. The Spiders won five events, but fell to defending Big East Champion, Villanova, 177-121.
In the 1M event, Chiulli recorded a score of 298.12, breaking a 14-year old school record. On the 3M springboard, the junior bested her own school record, scoring 335.63.
The Spiders took the top two spots in the 100 Breaststroke with Annie Lane and Erin Barry finishing first and second. Lane finished at 1:05.75, which is a season-best for the sophomore, while Barry clocked in just a second later at 1:06.71.
Lane and Barry continued their strong day in the water as Lane finished with another season-best in the 500 Free at 5:00.23, just behind the first-place finisher Villanova's Emily Mayo. Barry won the 200 Breaststroke, besting the field with a time of 2:20.91. Also in the 500 Free, seniors Molly McSweeney and Emma Terwilliger clocked in at 5:08.00 and 5:15.71, respectively.
"I liked today, but we're not satisfied. We have tons of room for growth and I think that's the scary part. They are just starting to believe," said head coach Matt Barany.
In her final home meet of her career, senior Kelley Yang won the 100 Fly with a 55.75, besting the field by two seconds. Hannah Matheson and fellow senior Melissa Ross took third and fourth in the event.
"It's always good to see a senior win in her last race at home. Kelley has been special for us and we're looking forward to her last events," said Barany.
The Spiders also finished strong on both diving springboards. Laura Rokop scored 252.00 while Mikaela Gekas-Robinson posted a personal best score of 237.67 in the 3M event. Rokop and Gekas-Robinson also took second and third, respectively on the 1M board.
"The divers looked good today. I am really happy with where we are at this point in the season," said head diving coach Sean Letsinger. "The result today is encrouagement that we are on the right track. I am looking forward to testing our skills against UVA next week."
UR's 200 Medley Relay team (Maggie Pope, Lane, Yang and Soulia) finished three-hundreths of a second behind Villanova, clocking a 1:46.39. The 200 Free Relay (Lane, Lauren McRae, Soulia and Yang) finished just two seconds off the Wildcats at 1:38.49.
Richmond celebrated its four seniors: Molly McSweeney, Melissa Ross, Emma Terwilliger and Kelly Yang, prior to the competition. The seniors have been a part of three consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference Championship teams as well as excelling in the classroom, earning three College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American team awards.
"The seniors are special. Their development as young people has been amazing," said Barany. "They swim fast, but they are much better students and people. We are a better program with them."
The divers will return to action on Friday as they compete against Virginia at the Robins Center Natatorium at 6:30 p.m.
The Spiders will return to the pool as they look for their sixth-straight Atlantic 10 Conference title. The championship is set for February 17-20 in Geneva, Ohio.
Players Mentioned
