The Valparaiso University women's swimming and diving team opened their 2002-2003 season on Friday evening competing at the Notre Dame Relays.

The women finished in fourth place in the meet with 112 points. Notre Dame won the event with 220 points, followed by Illinois State (166), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (138), the Crusaders, St. Mary's (84), and Marquette (60).

The competition gives the Brown and Gold a chance to get in the water and allows the freshmen to get experience with collegiate competition prior to the dual meet season starting in three weeks.

The Crusaders top finish came in the 500 freestyle relay as Danielle Trombatore (Redding, Calif./Shasta H.S.), Maggie Kroemer (Brown Deer, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.), Jen Penninga (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley H.S.), Shannon McDonald (Crown Point, Ind./Marian Catholic H.S.), and Laura Sadowski (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East H.S.) finished third with a time of 5:02.55.

The Brown and Gold finished in fourth place in each of the other relays.

Valpo will return to the pool on October 25 when the Crusaders travel to Indianapolis to compete against IUPUI and Saint Louis.