UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
AKRON, O.H. — The University at Buffalo women’s swimming & diving team (0-1, 0-1 MAC) opened up their season as they faced preseason MAC Coaches Poll favorite, and the 22nd ranked team in the nation, Akron inside the Ocasek Natatorium Friday night. The Bulls claimed seven victories throughout the evening despite falling short, 164-136.
In the second event of the evening, Buffalo sophomore Brittney Beetcher continued the momentum in long distance events from her freshman campaign as she claimed victory in the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 10:10.52. Beetcher claimed a second individual victory in the 500 yard freestyle, finishing a whole three seconds in front of the second place finisher with a time of 5:03.53.
Sophomore Nicole Roitenberg also had a good day in the pool for the Bulls, collecting a victory in the 100 yard backstroke (55.49) and a second place finish in the 200 yard backstroke event clocking in a time of 2:02.42.
Buffalo junior leader Anna Vitolins was victorious in the 100 yard breast stroke, claiming the win with a time of 1:04.04. Junior Grace Baumer claiming a top three finish in the event, placing third with a time of 1:05.35. Vitolins also swam hard in the 200 yard backstroke event, claiming second with a time of 2:20.63.
Coming off of MAC Swimmer of the Week honors, junior Katelyn Burns collected two individual victories as claimed first in the 50 yard freestyle (23.39) and 100 yard freestyle (50.72) events.
In the relay events, the Bulls team of Andrea Ernst, Anna Vitolins, Jillian Lawton and Antonia Naccarella were able to claim a second place spot in the 200 yard medley relay in a time of 1:44.68. The Bulls collected another second place in the 200 yard freestyle relay as Ernst, Catherine Schultheis, Naccarella and Burns swam to a time of 1:32.98, just .09 seconds behind the winning team from Akron.
In the diving well it was Buffalo junior Olivia Gosselin who claimed her first victory of the season in the 1-meter dive with an impressive score of 268.50. Freshman Jae Sarkis placed third in the event with a score of 241.28 for the young diver. In the 3-meter dive Sarkis was able to take home second place with a score of 262.05.
The Bulls will return to the pool to build on their start to the season on November 16 to compete in the Cleveland State Invitational.
