June 2, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The University of Virginia finished fourth in the team competition at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships at Eagle Creek Reservoir on Sunday (June 2). Virginia's varsity four crew finished second, the second varsity eight finished third and the first varsity eight crew finished 10th on the final day of the three-day event.

Brown won the team championship with a total of 67 points followed by Washington (63), California-Berkeley (44) and Virginia (43). Ohio State and Yale tied for fifth place with 42 points.

"I'm really proud of how all of our crews performed," said head coach Kevin Sauer. "Everyone stepped up and did very well in a very competitive event. That's what you need to have happen in an event like this and that's what all of our crews did."

Brown won the varsity four final with a time of 7:42.24 and Virginia was second at 7:44.90. UVa was fourth after the first 1500 meters of the race, but rallied in the last 500 meters to finish second. Yale finished third with a time of 7:46.80 followed by Michigan (7:47.61), Michigan State (7:48.57) and Harvard (7:49.43).

UVa's varsity four crew was comprised of coxswain Lauren Richards, Katie Yrazabal, Kelley Jesnig, Mary Dobmeier and Jessica Busch.

Washington won the second varsity eight final with a time of 6:46.39 followed by Brown (6:48.18) and Virginia (6:49.43). UVa was in sixth place after the first 1000 meters of the race, but the Cavaliers moved up to third after 1500 meters and held that position through the final 500 meters. Michigan State finished fourth (6:50.86) followed by Michigan (6:54.61) and Yale (6:56.78).

Virginia's second varsity eight crew was made up of coxswain Betty Shumaker, Hayley Nunn, Tammy Clark, Claudia Durkin, Julie McQueen, Genevieve Cauchon-Voyer, Carolyn McMillan, Risa Mandzuk and Emily Richard.

UVa's first varsity eight crew finished fourth in the petite final and 10th overall in that event. Yale won the petite final in the first varsity eight with a time of 6:39.99 followed by Southern California (6:43.71), Michigan (6:44.31), Virginia (6:44.87), Syracuse (6:45.73) and Harvard (6:47.46). The Cavaliers were in second place after 1500 meters, but Southern California and Michigan rallied in the last 500 meters to edge in front of Virginia.

UVa's first varsity eight crew was comprised of coxswain Sarah Brennan, Kelley Dougherty, Meg Van Dam, Catelyn Coyle, Lauren Mitterer, Molly Baker, Madeline Engel, Jennifer Reck and Amanda Kennedy.

The crews finishing one through six in the first varsity eight were Washington, Brown, California-Berkeley, Ohio State, Princeton and Stanford.

Virginia has finished in the top seven in the team competition at each of the six NCAA Women's Rowing Championships. The Cavaliers finished fourth in 1997, third in 1998, second in 1999, third in 2000 and seventh in 2001.