Cal Sweeps Pacific (M:133-116; W:163-90)

BERKELEY, California, October 5. THE University of California Golden Bears swept the Pacific Tigers with the men's team taking the win 133-116, and the women clinching it 163-90, at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

In the men's meet, the Golden Bears dominated the competition, winning 11 events, paced by seniors Dominik Meichtry and William Copeland capturing two events apiece.

Meichtry, last year's NCAA runner-up in the 200 free, won both the 100 free (46.21) and 1000 free (9:44.30), while Copeland placed first in the 100 fly (50.72) and 100 back (51.40). Other individual winners for Cal included freshman Martti Aljand in the 200 free (1:44.50), freshman Troy Nissen in the 100 breast (59.05), senior David Russell in the 200 fly (1:51.33), senior Joe Whittington in the 50 free (20.67), senior Mark Eckert in the 200 back (1:49.27) and sophomore transfer (West Virginia) Sean Mahoney in the 200 breast (2:05.99).

The Bears also won the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:29.60 (Russell, Richard Hunter, Jernej Godec, Whittington).

"We swam a lot of different people in a lot of different events," said Durden, who comes to Cal after two years directing the men's and women's program at Maryland, and five years as a top assistant at Auburn where the Tigers won six NCAA team titles between the men's and women's teams. "It was nice to get through the first meet. There was less emphasis on results today, and a little more focus on details."

On the women's side, Cal began the day capturing the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:45.04 led by Lauren Rogers, Alexandra Ellis, Tara Thomas and Hannah Wilson. Pacific's Jenny Lewis Ziada Jardine, Kristin Okazaki and Ja-neil Bragg claimed second place in the relay with a time of 1:47.89.

Sophomore Lauren Boyle was victorious in the 1000 free with a time of 10:10.84, while Blake Hayter placed second with a time of 10:12.40.

Junior newcomer Madison Kennedy edged out Pacific's Ja-neil Bragg in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.39.

Senior Emily Silver, who holds the school record in the 50 free (21.99 set last season), finished first in that event with a time of 23.25. Kennedy (23.26) and freshman Tara Thomas (23.78) placed 2-3 respectively.

Dana Vollmer began her junior campaign with a first-place finish in the 200 back with a mark of 2:04.79.

Freshman Sara Sun had a stellar debut for the Bears as well, as she captured the 500 free in 4:55.37. Thomas claimed the 100 fly in 54.71.

Special Thanks to the University of California for contributing this report

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