The Valparaiso women's swimming and diving team dropped their first dual meets of the season on Friday night, falling to IUPUI and St. Louis in Indianapolis.

The Crusaders lost to IUPUI 60-45 and to the Billikans 67-44.

Freshman Britt Nelson (Cortland, N.Y./Homer H.S.) led the Crusaders in the pool. She won the 500 freestyle in a time of 5:16.86, the fourth fastest time in the event in school history. She also turned in a second place finish in the 50 free, touching the wall in 26.16.

Katie Urbas (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette H.S.) was also victorious on the evening in the 200 buterfly. She touched the wall in 2:17.06. Leigh Schneider (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) finished second in the 100 free with a time of 56.62 seconds.

Schneider was also a member of Valpo's first place 200 free relay team. She teamed with Lauren Bambach (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman H.S.), Laura Sadowski (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East H.S.), and Daniella Trombatore (Redding, Calif./Shasta H.S.) to finish in a time of 1:44.66.

The Crusaders will retake to the pool on Saturday afternoon at the Purdue Invitational, beginning at noon.