SEARCH

Dec. 4, 2009

NEW ORLEANS - Freshmen Lauren Pfohl and Allie Evans posted individual victories in the 200 back and 500 free, respectively, as the Tulane University swimming and diving team split a double-dual meet Friday afternoon at the UNO Lakefront Aquatic Center.

The Green Wave earned their first dual-meet win over the host University of New Orleans, 80-77, but dropped a 99-62 decision to Western Kentucky. Tulane posted head-to-head wins over the Privateers in the 400 medley relay, 200 back, one-meter diving, 200 fly and 500 free, and had victories over the Hilltoppers in the 200 back and 500 free.

"As a team, we overcame a couple of setbacks early in the meet," Tulane head swimming and diving coach Lena Guarriello said. "We lost Kylie Kastes early on due to an injury and she is typically one of our top performers. We had to make last minute changes to our line-up. It wasn't an ideal situation, but the girls on the team really stepped up to fill the holes in our lineup.

"We've never been more of a team than we were today. I'm extremely proud of the way the team performed. They swam an unfamiliar meet format with some swimmers competing in their third and fourth events just to score points for the team. We're looking forward to another great day of racing tomorrow."

Pfohl won the 200 back with a time of 2:04.60 while Kayla Alf-Huynh finished fifth in the event with a 2:09.84 and Rebekah Harris was eighth at 2:12.05. Evans, meanwhile, touched the wall in the 500 free at 4:58.51, three spots ahead of Kristin Ates at 5:17.99 and five spots ahead of Bolton Harris, who finished with a season-best 5:18.68.

The star of the day, however, was Grace Tarka. When Kastes was injured during the 100 free - the third event of the meet - Tarka stepped in to post season-best times in the 400 IM and the 200 fly. Tarka finished sixth in the 400 IM at 4:34.40 to lead the Green Wave in the event, and touched the wall at 2:11.55 in the 200 fly to finish eighth. Gisele Calderon led Tulane in the 200 fly with a second-placed 2:07.04 while Emily Needham was third with a 2:08.01.

"Grace defined the term `team player' in today's competition," Guarriello said. "Her top three events aren't swum until day two of this meet. So, Grace swam the 400 IM for us today and then volunteered to give up her spot on the 200 freestyle relay to replace Kylie Kastes in the 200 Fly after Kylie's injury early in the meet."

In addition, Elizabeth Whitaker had a lifetime best in the 200 breast at 2:32.78 while diver Sarah McGoldrick had a season- and lifetime-best in the one-meter springboard after posting 200.05 points in six dives. McGoldrick finished second in the one-meter diving while Whitaker was eighth in the 200 breast.

The quartet of Pfohl, Erin Cunningham, Tarka and Evans led the Green Wave in the 400 medley relay, finishing third with a time of 3:59.23. Tarka, Cunningham and Ates finished sixth, eighth and 10th in the 400 IM with times of 4:34.40, 4:36.60 and 4:54.74, respectively.

Evans led the Green Wave effort in the 100 free with a time of 54.81 to finish ninth. Cunningham had a top time of 2:28.73 in the 200 breast to finish seventh, and the foursome of Kristine Gu, Alf-Huynh, Whitaker and Hayley Tilton clocked out at 1:38.98 to finish second overall in the 200 free relay.

The Green Wave return to action Saturday, Dec. 5, when they play another double-dual meet against UNO and Western Kentucky at the Lakefront Natatorium. In that meet the teams will participate in the 200 medley relay, 1000 free, 200 free, 100 back, three-meter diving, 100 breast, 100 fly, 50 free, 200 IM and 400 free relay.

Swimming & Diving Links

Green Wave Athletics

Director of Athletics | Facilities | Staff Directory | Hall of Fame | Athletic Wellness

© 2013 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use | About Us | Advertise | Feedback