Valparaiso’s women’s swimming and diving team finished second to the host Cardinals on Saturday afternoon in the Ball State Relay Invitational held in Muncie, Ind.

The Crusaders tallied 106 points on the afternoon, 10 more than third place IUPUI.  Ball State won the meet with 228 points.

Valpo’s 800 freestyle relay turned in a runner-up finish with a time of 8:18.08 as the team of Rachel Majercik (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant H.S.), Laura Rickey (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville H.S.), Kristy Shew (Terre Haute, Ind./North Vigo H.S.), and Stephanie Ferschl (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago H.S.) teamed to finish behind Ball State.

The Crusaders also posted numerous third place finishes on the day.  Justine Barnes (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams H.S.), Amy Young (Blue Bell, Pa./LaPorte H.S. [Ind.]), and Majercik posted a time of 3:12.83 in the 300 butterfly relay to start the day while Karen Berg (Glendale, Ariz./Deer Valley H.S.), Shaunna Dangremond (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino H.S.), and Jess Dranchak (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage H.S.) turned in a time of 3:18.42 to earn the same place in the 300 backstroke relay.

Dangremond, Rickey, Shew, and Ferschl teamed for a third place finish in the 500 free relay with a time of 5:04.53 while Dangremond, Amy Andracki (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.), Majercik, and Rickey earned the same spot with a time of 1:57.99 in the 200 medley relay.

Shew, Barnes, and Ferschl placed third in the 1500 free relay with a time of 17:08.56 while Dangremond, Andracki, Majercik, and Rickey turned in a time of 4:27.27 in the 400 medley relay. 

Valparaiso will return to the water on January 23 with an 11 a.m. meet against UIC in Chicago, Ill.