SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In its final dual meet before the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, the University of North Dakota women's swimming and diving team fell to both Nevada-Reno (44-4) and San Jose State (44-4) yesterday in a double dual at the Palo Alto College Pool.
"We had people swimming in really off events, so the score doesn't reflect what we are capable of," assistant coach Kevin Rapien said. "We were more interested in keeping the girls loose for this week's conference meet, and less concerned on winning events."
North Dakota opened competition with a third-place finish in the 100 medley relay. The team of sophomore Sami Puk (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), sophomore Kelsey Richels (Wahpeton, N.D.), sophomore Alyssa Bailey (Spearfish, S.D.), and senior Caitlin Conci (Craig, Colo.) finished with a time of 53.89.
In the 50 back, sophomore Camille Merwin (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) touched at 26.3 for third and freshman Kelli Renner (Aberdeen. S.D.) finished fourth with a time of 30.8. Sophomore Morgan Lynch (Elk River, Minn.) placed third in the 50 back (33.09) followed by freshman Kate Fitzgerald (Moorhead, Minn.) in fourth (34.25).
Junior Veronica Medon (Huntsville, Ontario) finished third in the 50 breast with a time of 33.28, and freshman Rachael Wessman (Fargo, N.D.) touched in at 28.22 for third in the 50 fly.
UND wrapped things up with a third-place finish in the 100 free relay as freshman Alison Tonsager (Ramsey, Minn.), freshman Erin Grabanski (Grand Forks, N.D.), sophomore Caitlin Jung (Hugo, Minn.), and senior Samantha Simon (Barrington, Ill.) clocked in at 49.21 for third.
North Dakota will open the 2012 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. with the 200 medley and the 800 free relays.
- UND -
