Complete Results

            The Valparaiso University women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2007-2008 season on Friday evening with a fifth place finish at the Dennis Stark Relays hosted by Notre Dame.

            The Crusaders finished with 104 points on the night, ahead of Marquette in the team standings.  Oakland was fourth with 142 points while Notre Dame was the team champion with 226 points.

            Valpo finished in fourth place in four different events on the day.  The 400 medley relay, 400 breaststroke relay, and 400 freestyle relays all earned the position as well as the Crusader diving tandem of Anna Orwick (Broadlands, Ill./Champaign Centennial H.S.) and Beth Niggemyer (Spokane, Wash./University H.S.).

            “If you add up our best swims in each stroke, I believe we would have set the medley relay record,” head coach Bryan Morrison said afterwards.  “It is a good start to our season.  Our freshmen did a great job for their first meet.”

             Valparaiso will host its annual alumni meet on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. before opening its dual meet season next Saturday at Cleveland State.  The first race in Cleveland is set for 1 p.m. CDT.