AKRON – Buffalo swimming started the season with a win against Mid-American Conference champion Akron, 155-145.<\/p>\n
It was an impressive start to the conference season for the State University of New York, Buffalo women’s swimming and diving team as it knocked off defending Mid-American Conference champion Akron, 155-145, at the Ocasek Natatorium on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
It was a mix of UB veterans and newcomers that helped defeat the Zips. Seniors Jessica Powers and Spencer Rodriguez as well as freshman Megan Burns each won two events in the meet.<\/p>\n
Powers won the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 10:24.25 and took first in the 500 freestyle in 5:03.61. In each race freshman Hannah Miller finished second to clinch valuable points for the Bulls. Rodriguez won the 200 freestyle (1:54.26) as well as the 200 individual medley (2:07.01).<\/p>\n
Burns continues to stand out in only her freshman season. The Rochester, NY native won the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.02. She also finished first in the 50 freestyle in 23.66. The Bulls actually took the top three spots in the race as Taylor Steffl finished second and Eve Kosten took third.<\/p>\n
Overall, 22 different swimmers and divers earned points for the Bulls to help UB defeat Akron.<\/p>\n
The Bulls will return home to host Michigan State and Army next weekend.<\/p>\n
A late rally by the Akron women’s swimming and diving team was not enough to overtake Buffalo as the Zips dropped their season opener to the Bulls, 155-145, on Friday night at Ocasek Natatorium.<\/p>\n
Overall, Akron won 10-of-16 events, including wins three of the last four events, but could not overcome a consistent Bulls effort in the pool. Buffalo took at least two of the top three spots in 13-of-16 events.<\/p>\n
Akron opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay, with the team of Ashley Niznik, Amanda Lawson, Erin Seiler and Taylor Hart, edging UB’s A team by .31 seconds.<\/p>\n
After Buffalo posted back-to-back wins in the 1,000 and 200 freestyles, Luka Szynal put the Zips back in the winner’s column. Szynal won the 100 backstroke in a time of 56.05.<\/p>\n
Lawson and Seiler teamed up to extend Akron’s winning streak to three-straight events. Lawson won the 100 breaststroke by over a second (1:05.18) before Seiler dominated the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:04.72.<\/p>\n
Both teams posted a pair of sweeps in consecutive events, with Buffalo taking the top three spots in the 50 freestyle. The Zips followed suit, claiming the top three spots in the 1-meter diving event. Rachel Aepelbacher won the event with a score of 255.68 while Paige Kelkenberg and Alice Hottensmith tied for second with scores of 241.27.<\/p>\n
Szynal and Lawson added to their win totals in the 200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke, respectively, before Seiler became the third Zip to post a pair of individual wins. Seiler won the 100 butterfly in a time of 55.68.<\/p>\n
The Akron divers added their second sweep of the night in the 3-meter event, with Hottensmith leading the way with a score of 267.60. Kelkenberg (242.33) and Aepelbacher (230.03) followed close behind.<\/p>\n
The Zips closed the night with a win in the 200 freestyle relay, but would come up 10 points short in the overall standings.<\/p>\n