Oct. 23, 2014 Results
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova women's swimming and diving team came out strong in its first meet and defeated the La Salle Explorers, 183-113, at home, part of a three-meet opening weekend where the Wildcats face La Salle, Connecticut and West Virginia.
The women swept seven events including the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke and 200 IM.
Freshman Gabby Daigneault (Montreal, Quebec/William H. Hall), freshman Heather Farley (Mendota Heights, Minn./Convent of the Visitation), junior Fiona Hardie (Hampshire, England/Bournemouth School) and senior Katrin Heider (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany/Herkenrath) started off the season with a win in the 400 medley relay in the first race.
Things went the Wildcats' way from there as VU notched 12 first place, 11 second place and eight third places finishes.
In the freestyle, junior Kaisla Kollanus (Hyvinkaa, Finland/Makelanrinteen Iukio) won the 50 and 100 at 24.10 and 51.91. Senior Sara Jurek (Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler) helped the Wildcats sweep the 200 freestyle with a 1:52.78 finish. Sophomore Emily Mayo (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) won the 500 freestyle, placing six seconds ahead of the field, at 4:59.33 while freshman Caitlin Daday (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) won the 1000 freestyle in her first collegiate meet at 10:15.62, roughly 13 second faster than the field.
In the backstroke, Daigneault won the 100 and 200 with times of 57.70 and 2:04.54 for her first two individual wins in her first meet at Villanova.
Sophomore Kristin Haufler (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) led the way for the sweep in the 100 butterfly at 57.91. Hardie also paved the path for the sweep in the 200 fly with a 2:05.06 finish.
The Wildcats return to the pool against Connecticut tomorrow, Fri., Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. in the second day of Villanova's Homecoming Triple Header. Villanova closes out the weekend versus West Virginia on Saturday at noon.
