The UCSB women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2011-12 season on Saturday by splitting a double dual meet at Campus Pool. The Gauchos defeated visiting Oregon State, 158-104, while simultaneously falling to UCLA, 168-130.
Sophomores Sophia Yamauchi and Andrea Ward picked up where they left off after phenomenal freshman campaigns. Yamauchi won three individual events and Ward won two on Saturday.
Ward won the first individual event of the day as she touched the wall in 10:12.51 in the 1000 freestyle, beating out UCLA’s Lauren Baker by nearly four seconds. Her second win of the day was in the 100 butterfly, in which she clocked in at 54.77 seconds, beating out Oregon State’s Rachel O’Brien by over a second.
Yamauchi posted her first win in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.51. She beat out her own teammate, Carissa Metcalf, who took second in 1:05.99. Yamauchi captured the victory in the 200 breast (2:16.63) while the Gauchos once again went one-two with Katie Records touching second in 2:22.03. Yamauchi rounded out her program with a win in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:02.69, which was nearly three seconds faster than UCLA’s Ting Quah, who finished second.
UCLA opened the meet in strong fashion as its ‘A’ and ‘B’ relay teams finished first and second, respectively. The Gauchos’ ‘A’ team of Allie Knight, Yamauchi, Miranda Schneider and Kendall Neely touched third in 1:46.97.
The Bruins continued their dominance in the 200 free, 100 backstroke and 100 free by taking first and second in each of the events.
Aside from Yamauchi and Ward’s wins, the Gauchos garnered individual top finishes in 200 back and 500 free. After taking third behind the Bruin duo of Emily Andelson and Anna Senko in the 100 back (58.14), Allie Knight captured the top-finish in the 200 back (2:03.63).
Freshman Heren Alanis had a strong start to her collegiate career as she picked up the victory in the 500 free in 5:01.51, beating out UCLA’s Anna Senko by 2.51 seconds.
The Gauchos concluded the swimming portion of the meet with a mark of 3:30.59 by the ‘A’ team of Mariah Tharp, Emma Hunt, Emily Stucky and Ward in the 400 free relay. They took first in the event – since UCLA decided to swim exhibition – and touched second overall.
In diving, Caila Baltas was the Gauchos’ top finisher on both boards, taking fourth on the three-meter (225.90 points) and on the one-meter (196.80 points).
UCSB will be back in action next Friday, Oct. 28 when the men and women host Denver in a dual meet. The meet is scheduled for a noon start at Campus Pool.
