Alabama
LSU
Women's Swimming and Diving Ties LSU in Baton Rouge
11/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 7, 2008
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Alabama women's swimming and diving earned a rare tie with homestanding LSU Friday afternoon after fighting through the meet to be in a position to pull off the upset, finishing the meet with a score of 150-150.
"It was another great meet in this series," Alabama head coach Eric McIlquham said "LSU is always ready to go when we come around and today was no different. I was very pleased with the way our ladies competed, with the way they got after it today."
Junior Agustina de Giovanni led the Tide with a trio of wins, including back-to-back wins in the 200 breaststroke and 500 freestyle as well as a win in the 100 breaststroke. Junior Maggie Zblewski was second in the 100 breaststroke to give the Tide women one of its four 1-2 finishes on the day.
"Agustina swam tough today," McIlquham said. "To post that kind of time in the 200 breaststroke and come back in just a matter of minutes and win the 500 freestyle, that was some gutsy swimming."
On the men's side of the meet, Alabama fell 174-124. Junior distance ace Mark Randall continues to dominate his events, winning the 1000 freestyle by more than 12 seconds and the 500 by more than six seconds.
"Mark had another outstanding showing as did Riley Boulden in the breaststroke events," McIlquham said. "We competed well and continue to improve and do the things we need to do, both the men and women, that are going to help us be where we need to be at the end, at the conference and NCAA championships."
After taking second and third in the opening 200 medley relay, the Tide women got on a winning track in the 1000 freestyle, with junior Shannon Van Hoy and freshman Cameron Bass taking first and second respectively. Freshman Suzanne Schwee added a win in the 200 butterfly with a season best 1:59.96, which puts her second all-time for Alabama and makes her only the second UA swimmer to break the two-minute barrier in that event.
Sophomore Kate Shannon Gray grabbed a win in the 200 IM with Schwee taking second. Freshman Carrie Dragland and sophomore Baylee Ellson took first and second off the three-meter board.
On the men's side, junior Riley Boulden continued his winning ways in the breaststroke events, taking first in the 100 and 200. He was also second in the 200 IM. Junior Luke Boutwell took second in the 100 breaststroke to give the UA men a 1-2 sweep. Sophomore Denes Zubcsek won the 200 butterfly while junior Aaron Fleshner rounded out the Tide's winning ways with a first place finish off the three-meter board.
Alabama returns to action Saturday, continuing its Louisiana road trip with a visit to the University of New Orleans where the action will get started at noon.
Players Mentioned
