March 24, 2008

No. 2 Virginia Successful Against Bucknell In Season-Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - In its season-opener, the No. 2-ranked Virginia rowing team won three varsity races and swept the novice events against Bucknell Friday at the Rivanna Reservoir.

"I thought it was a good start to our season," head coach Kevin Sauer said. "In the first race, you never know how it will go and I thought our crews handled it well. We thank Bucknell for the trip down and wish them well the rest of their season."

Virginia's Varsity Eight earned a first-place finish with a time of 6:39.2, while the Varsity Four (7:37.4) and the second Varsity Four (7:51.8) also had strong showings for victories. Virginia's "B" boats in both those races came in second place, with the Bison coming in third.

The second Varsity Eight was also victorious with a time of 6:51.9.

In the novice events, Virginia got victories from its Eight (7:10.7), Second Eight (7:26.8) and Four (8:14.8) boats.

Clemson Rowing Sweeps Cornell

CLEMSON, S.C. - The Clemson rowing team swept Cornell in a regatta held on Lake Hartwell on Saturday morning.

In the first race of the morning, the Tiger's Varsity 8+ crew crossed the finish line ahead of Cornell's Varsity 8+ in a time of 6:39.27. The Varsity 8+ boat, which consisted of Elyse Roenick (coxswain), Brittany Robinson, Ford Heiner, Megan Bendik, Catie Cornett, Michelle Nance, Liz Robb, Suzanne Van Fleet, and Jessica Leidecker, is coming off a week in which they were named the ACC's Crew of the Week.

The next race saw Clemson's Second Varsity 8+ finish the 2,000-meter course in a time of 6:51.8, ahead of Cornell who finished in 6:57.64. The Second Varsity 8+ crew consisted of Abbey Fernandez (coxswain), Alison Colberg, Kelly Murphy, Caitlin O'Neil, Nicole Rau, Brittany Cummings, Hillary Cumbest, Mairi Trimboli, and Blair Brendle.


Duke Rowing Picks Up Another Win On Day Two Of Texas Invitational

AUSTIN, Texas - The Duke rowing team's second varsity eights entry picked up a win over Iowa on Saturday, March 22, in day two of the Texas Invitational on Lady Bird Lake.

The Blue Devils bested Iowa by less than three seconds in the dual-style race, turning in a time of 7:21.9 in the 2,000 meter course compared to Iowa's mark of 7:24.7.

Duke also came within 1.3 seconds of upsetting nationally-ranked Texas in the varsity fours, but could not overcome a quick start by the Longhorns that resulted in a time of 7:45.6 on the course. Duke's mark of 7:46.9 against Texas was the third-fastest time on the day in the fours.

Duke also competed in five other races on Saturday, dropping two varsity eights races to Texas, a pair to Iowa and one to UCF.

• Rowing Notches Two Wins In First Day Of Texas Invitational

Second Novice Eight Leads Tar Heels Against Bucknell

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - North Carolina's second novice eight boat led the way as the UNC rowing team raced against Bucknell Saturday morning on the Rivanna Reservoir. The freshmen provided Carolina's only victory of the day, finishing the race in 7:28.40 for an open-water win in the first contest of the morning.

"The second novice eight had a very, very solid race," said UNC coach Sarah Haney said. Racing in the Tar Heels' second novice eight were Sarah Nolan (coxswain), Brittany Walsh, Cait Clendenin, Lauren Maidment, Audrey Whitmeyer-Weathers, Elizabeth Golly, Ashley Trudeau, Laura Brookshire and Elena Boucher.

Bucknell came out on top in the other five races. Following the second novice eight was the novice eight, which Bucknell won in a time of 7:14.10 followed by UNC in 7:22.12. Racing in the Tar Heel novice eight were Jill Lunsford (coxswain), Paige Wolf, Katherine Williamson, Anna Noguchi, Lindsay Paterniti, Katie Frayler, Caroline Rekuc, Vanessa Matos and Tallie Casucci.