BUFFALO, NY – A trio of Saints took home podium finishes as Siena Swimming & Diving continued action at the 2023 MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York on Thursday.
Through two days of action, the Saints sit in sixth place with 133 points, leading seventh-place Rider by ten and trailing fifth-place Canisius by 17.
Entering the week with the top 50 free time thus far on the season, senior Rory Kalac took fourth in the preliminary round (23.81) and claimed second place in the finals (23.60) for her second consecutive All-MAAC finish in the event.
Senior Lydia Delano and junior Talia Spenziero lived up to their reputations as two of the best in the league, with Delano claiming second place in the three-meter diving finals (215.05) and Spenziero taking seventh (182.75) to give both All-MAAC honors in the event for the second straight season.
A pair of senior distance swimmers advanced to the MAAC finals in the 500 free to start the day off, with Reilly King ultimately taking 12th in the final heat with a time of 5:10.67, and classmate Lauren Ostrander finishing 14th with a mark of 5:17.21. Freshman Grace Neno turned in a best time in the preliminary round with a finish of 5:25.77.
The 200 IM saw freshman Tori Spacciapolli advance to the MAAC Finals and move into fifth on the All-Time Top Ten Performers List in the event with a time of 2:10.46 in the preliminary round. Other best times in the event came from junior Emily Sulik (2:14.30), sophomore Olivia Martin (2:15.97), and freshman Mya Reed (2:17.74).
Aside from Kalac's highlight performance in the 50 free, freshman Kaci Owens moved up to eighth all-time with a mark of 24.55. Other best times in the event came from senior Elisabeth Balicanta (24.66), Reed (25.28), freshman Brooke Pociask (25.31), senior Maggie Caputo (25.95), and senior Ellie Murphy (25.30).
The night concluded with the 200 free relay team of sophomore Shaylea Triller, Owens, Balicanta, and Kalac placing sixth with a time of 1:36.76.Â
Siena will begin day three preliminary swims at 10 AM in Buffalo on Friday, February 10.
