Women’s swim and dive remain unbeaten with wins over Springfield, Coast Guard

The University of Rhode Island Women’s swim and dive team swept Springfield College and Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon, improving their record to 3-0 on the season.

In a strong effort to beat Springfield College 196-99 and Coast Guard 183-108, URI won 12 out of 14 scoring events. Third-year Maddie Tetreault, second-year Rylee Kelly and second-year Lily Hsu combined for half of those event wins individually.

Hsu, the only diver out of those three, won both of her events, the one and three meter dives with a score of 248.35. The second-year beat out her teammates, second-year Olivia Winslow and fourth-year Carleigh Schlissel.

Winning the 1000 yard freestyle and 200 yard backstroke, Tetreault repeated the same victorious slate she recorded in the team’s most recent meet against Siena.

Tetreault’s back-to-back wins in the 1000 yard freestyle just two weeks apart were nearly identical on the scoresheet, with a .1 second difference, this week clocking in at 10:53.59.

The fourth-year’s 200 yard backstroke, on the other hand, saw improvement between the two meets. While Tetreault finished with a time of 2:12.14 in the meet against Siena, she finished in 2:09.41 this time around.

URI’s relay teams showcased the same amount of success as the team’s individual events, taking the top two spots in the 400-yard medley relay. Third-year Kelsey McMenemy, third-year Hannah Benavides, second-year Ella Hacker and second-year Abby Zadorozny combined for a time of 3:58.38.

Benavides and Hacker also picked up individual wins; Benavides in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:29.90) and Hacker in the 100-yard butterfly (58.58).

First-year Megan Huntley, on the Rams’ squad that took second place in the 400 yard medley relay, earned her first career win in the 100-yard freestyle.

The third Ram to win two individual events, Rylee Kelly, came out on top in the 200 and 500 meter freestyle races with times of 1:55.60 and 5:11.38 respectively.

“ I felt like I competed really well this past weekend,” Kelly said. “This year we switched my training, so I think that’s making a really big difference with how I’m competing in meets this season. ”

URI Head Coach Lilli Falconer Deering has made clear that practices are an important part of not only preparing the team physically, but also mentally.

“[The team] is constantly pushing each other in practice,” Deering said. “I think that helps us continue to improve as well. It’s always more fun to have someone to race against too. That’s going to help you raise the clock, but also push you on good and bad days, so it’s nice to see that.”

These healthy habits that are developed during practices are put into play during meets, according to Kelly.

“ We always say the most important thing is having fun,” Kelly said. “We all support each other and cheer each other on. ”

Having home-pool advantage gave the younger and older Rams the edge over Springfield and Coast Guard, according to Deering.

“O verall, the general atmosphere was much more exciting and more comfortable for us since we were at home, so team culture wise and team atmosphere wise the girls were having more fun at this meet,” Deering said. “O ur freshmen were more engaged. ”

While this competitiveness has paid off so far in the pool, the Rams will travel to in-state rival Providence College next Wednesday where they will have to adapt to a pool that is measured in meters in comparison to URI’s pool, which is measured in yards.

“ I think they’re a good competition ,” Kelly said. “It’ll be interesting to compete at a yard school, so it’ll spice things up for us and keep us engaged.”

URI competes Wednesday at Taylor Natatorium in Providence at 5 p.m.