Camden, N.J.--- On Friday, June 2, in the IRA Regatta at Cooper River Park in Camden, N.J., the Villanova University women's lightweight eight crew team used a first place finish in Rep 1 of day two's afternoon session to advance to the Grand Final to be held on Saturday afternoon.

Racing in heat one of the Varsity Lightweight Eight race on Friday morning, the Wildcats posted a strong performance, but finished second to Princeton University. Villanova's heat one time of 6:50.87, was just over four seconds behind the first place Tigers, who crossed the finish line in 6:46.03. With Princeton's heat one victory, the Tigers automatically advanced to Saturday's Grand Final. The Wildcats needed a first or second place finish in Friday afternoon's Varsity Lightweight Eight Rep 1 to advance to the event final. The third and fourth place finishers in the two Rep heats would go to the Varsity Lightweight Eight Petite Final on Saturday.

On Friday afternoon in the Rep 1 race, Villanova finished in first place (6:49.70), over two seconds ahead of the second place San Diego State boat. The Wildcats' first place performance advanced their varsity lightweight eight boat to the Grand Final on Saturday, June 3, at 2:30 p.m.