Oct. 18, 2008
Complete Results
The Siena swimming and diving team opened its 10th season of competition with a 161-81 setback against northeast power New Hampshire this afternoon at Swasey Pool in Durham, N.H. Despite capturing wins in just three of 13 events, the Saints (0-1) posted some impressive times. Sophomore Brittany Pavolko picked up right where she left off from a star-studded freshman campaign, winning each of her events and accounting for all three of Siena's victories.
"This was definitely the most impressive first meet we have had since I have been here," remarked third year head coach Greg Brown. "The overall effort was great, especially give the type of team we were swimming against and we surpassed expectations today."
Pavolko, who set four school and three pool records last season on her way to twice being named MAAC Swimmer of the Week, nearly missed setting another during today's performance. She paced the pool in the 200 free, 100 fly and 200 free relay. Her time of 1:56.58 in the 200 free narrowly missed breaking the seven year old school record by less than four-tenths of a second.
"It is a great accomplishment for Brittany to swim against their top swimmers and swim as well as she did," added Brown. "She really showed how far she has come as one of the elite swimmers in the MAAC."
Joining Pavolko in the Saints' relay win in the 200 free relay were freshman MaryAnn Gaffuri, sophomore Caitlyn Biagioli and senior captain Rachel McShane. Swimming in her first collegiate action, the Albany High graduate Gaffuri added a solid second place time in the 50 free (:25.72), narrowly losing to UNH's (1-0) Amy Perrault who broke the Siena Swim Center record in the 50 free last season.
Other Siena newcomers added solid times and finishes as well against the highly touted Wildcats squad. Sophomore Nicole Hagi added a pair of second place times in both the 500 and 1000 free, while fellow classmate and Siena water polo teammate Molly Chamberlain also recorded a second place time in the 1000 free in the duo's swimming and diving debut.
Freshman Elizabeth Rice contributed a pair of third place finishes in the 1 and 3M dives, highlighted by a 214.05 score in 1M dives, which placed her just shy of the school record.
"The new swimmers and divers as a whole really injected a lot of life into the team and combined with the ladies we had coming back, ended up complimenting each other quite well," noted Brown.
Kiersten Wollenzien and Perrault led the Wildcat attack, each winning two events. Wollenzien paced the pool in the 200 medley relay and 500 free, while Perrault secured wins in both the 50 and 100 free.
The Saints return to action next Saturday in Connecticut to meet Fairfield in the MAAC opener, before returning home to open the Siena Swim Center slate on Oct. 29 against Holy Cross.
