The University of Rhode Island women’s swim and dive team began their season on Saturday against Siena College, winning 11 of the 16 events en route to an 181-114 victory over the Saints.
“It’s always important for us to get up and race other teams,” Rhode Island’s head coach Lilli Falconer Deering said. “It was a great meet, I was really happy with everyone’s performances.”
URI dominated the matchup, with Rams earning a podium finish in all events except the final two. Rhode Island swept three straight events, the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, and 50-yard freestyle. The team would earn their fourth sweep later in the meet in the 200-yard backstroke.
“I feel like we’re ahead of where we’ve been in the past few years in terms of our training and what the girls are capable of doing in the pool,” Deering said. “That’s always a good sign for what’s to come for the rest of the season.”
After finishing seventh in the Atlantic 10 championship last year for the one-meter dive, third-year diver Lily Hsu picked up where she left off for Rhode Island. Hsu earned first place for the one-meter dive against Siena, and second place for the three-meter dive. URI finished with five of the six podium positions across both diving events.
The Rams received key contributions from first-year swimmers against Siena, with 10 first-year athletes joining the team. First-year Erin Terman debuted in the opening event as the first swimmer to race in Rhode Island’s first-place finishing group for the 200-yard medley relay. First-year Lauren Biglow also impressed in her debut, placing first in the 200-yard backstroke.
“I was really happy with all of our freshman’s performances that competed this weekend,” Deering said. “I’m just excited to see them get more confident and compete again this coming weekend.”
Experience still led the way for Rhode Island against Siena, with two returners taking home two individual first-place finishes. Third-year freestyle swimmer Rylee Kelly took first in the 200-yard and 500-yard iterations of her event. Her second-year teammate Julianna Tyler placed first in both the 200 and 500-yard butterfly events. Tyler also swam the third leg of the first-place 200-yard medley relay to start the day.
“They’re not new to the competition,” Deering said. “I think both of them race really well, they know how to prepare themselves really well for their races. Juliana last year was a standout performer for us. I think she’s going to continue to do that and she does it in a very humble and respectful way.”
Rhode Island’s next opponent could be a glimpse into the future of where Deering hopes to bring the program in her ninth season with the swim and dive team, and her third since being named head coach in March of 2022.
“Northeastern is a really tough team,” Deering said. “Their success as a program is kind of what I’m hoping to build here at URI.”
The University of Rhode Island’s swim and dive team returns to action this Saturday at 1 p.m. traveling to face off against Northeastern University.