The UConn Women’s Swim and Dive team faced off against Villanova Thursday afternoon, where they were determined to have a different outcome against the Wildcats. The Huskies came close to winning the Big East Championship last year but fell just short with a final score of 154-146. A similar situation happened in this meet where UConn failed to top the reigning champs with a final score of 179-121.
In the first event of the meet, UConn’s relay team of sophomore Rhian Russell, freshman Sydney Perkins, junior Ella Epes and freshman Jessica Sheng came in second place with a time of 27.11. Villanova’s relay team of freshman Alana Leen, junior Winnie Jalet, junior Arabella Lee and senior Lainey Quinones narrowly beat out the Huskies for first place with a time of 27.24.
In the 1000-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle events, the Huskies struggled to top the leaderboard, as Villanova secured first through third in the 1000-yard freestyle and first through fourth in the 200-yard freestyle. Sophomore Bella Hoffman, who previously placed first for the Huskies in their first meet of the season, couldn’t top Villanova and landed in sixth place. Junior Lexi Martino finished in fifth place for UConn, just .19 seconds ahead of Hoffman.
Despite the beginning struggles of the meet, senior Maggie Donlevy, a key player for the
Huskies, changed the atmosphere by coming in first place in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 27.17. Right behind her was fellow teammate graduate student Kayla Mendonca, who had a time of 28.13.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Sheng secured an impressive first place victory, beating out Quiones by just .2 seconds. Sheng placed first in the 100-yard freestyle as well with a time of 25.71.
In the one-meter diving event, the Huskies dominated the leaderboard, securing first through third place. Senior Julia Pioso placed first, followed by freshman Kate Cooper and junior Darah Ostrom. Pioso, Cooper and Ostrom had a previous victory in the first meet of the season where they also topped the leaderboard.
However, the Huskies struggled to place first in later events such as the 100-yard butterfly, 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Wildcats’ strong returning roster from last season contributed to their wins in these events. In yet another close race for first place, sophomore Martina Lonati placed first for Villanova in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 26.71. Just .4 seconds behind her was UConn freshman Stella McCardie, with a time of 26.75.
In the final event, the relay team of Donlevy, freshman Nadine Amin, sophomore Maggie Rhodes and Sheng placed third for the Huskies with a time of 25.84.
The Wildcats beat the Huskies with a final score of 172-128. A combination of close races and the Huskies’ inability to top the leaderboard in certain events prevented Connecticut from taking down the reigning champs.
UConn will look to bounce back in its next Big East matchup against Georgetown University. The meet is set to take place this Saturday in Washington, D.C. with a start time of 12 p.m.