Feb. 24, 2006

Duquesne's women's swimming team set seven new school records in finishing a University-best fourth at the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship. The Dukes had two swimmers combine for three individual records while four of the five relay teams managed to set new DU standards. The Red and Blue had two Atlantic 10 champions crowned as well.

Sophomore Kyla Favret turned in record-setting performances in both backstroke events. She set the new Duquesne record in the 100 back with a time of 58.56 and was crowned the Atlantic 10 champion in the 200 back with a school record time of 2:04.64.

Freshman Mallory Marx set the new DU standard in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.88 and was also on the record-setting 200 and 400 medley relay teams.

Freshman Katrina Streiner was crowned an Atlantic 10 champion in the 50-yard freestyle, but she did not top her own school record which she set at the Akron Invitational. She also had a hand in three relay records as a member of the 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relays.

One thing that was apparent for the Dukes at A-10's was its team depth. In fact, 11 different swimmers made up the four relay teams that set school records at the event. In addition to Marx and Streiner, senior Sarah Breisinger was a member of two record-setting relays as was sophomore Avy Mitchell. Also helping to set relay school records were senior Jillian Rupinski, juniors Jenn Gordon and Liz Yager, sophomore Lauren Stephens and freshmen Becky Miller, Jennifer Price and Christina Sherrard.

Day one highlights
The Red and Blue jumped out to a quick third place start on the strength of their 200 medley and 800 free relays. The Dukes took third place in the 200 medley in a school record time of 1:46.66 and placed fifth in the 800 free with a school-best time of 7:43.54.

Day two highlights
DU dropped to sixth after day two as schools with divers temporarily passed the Dukes. Duquesne opened the evening by scoring eight points in the 500-yard freestyle as Yager placed 10th and senior Amy Gersbach finished 16th. Breisinger then placed 16th in the 200 IM before four Dukes scored in the 50 free. Streiner led the way in first place, followed by Sherrard in 10th, Stephens in 12th and senior Liz Barba in 16th. The day ended with the 200 free relay taking third place with a school record time of 1:36.04.

Day three highlights
Gersbach got the Dukes on the board early on day three with a sixth place showing in the 400 IM. This was followed by Streiner and Marx placing sixth and eighth respectively in the 100 butterfly, with Marx getting the record during the preliminary swim. Gordon then came through for the Red and Blue with a 13th place performance in the 200 freestyle. Duquesne's depth came in to play again as the Dukes managed to score three swimmers in each of the next two events. Sophomore Katie McHugh came in eighth in the 100 breaststroke, followed by Rupinski in 11th and Mitchell in 12th. The 100 back saw Breisinger capture fourth, Favret take fifth and Marx place eighth with Favret setting a new school mark in prelims. The relays got the job done again with a second place, school record showing in the 400 medley.

Day four highlights
The Dukes made their move on the fourth and final day by tallying 171 team points. Four DU swimmers set the tone for the day by scoring points in the 1,650 freestyle. Yager led the way in seventh place followed by sophomore Kia Scibetta in 9th, Gersbach in 11th and Price in 16th. Three more Dukes joined the point parade in the 200 backstroke wit Favret winning the conference crown in school record time, followed by Breisinger in ninth and Marx in 14th. Three additional Duquesne swimmers scored for the team in the 100 free with Streiner taking second place, Stephens finishing 10th and Miller placing 16th. As the day progressed, McHugh and Rupinski came in ninth and 11th in the 200-yard breaststroke while Gordon (5th) and senior Erin McEvoy (16th) placed in the 200 butterfly. The four-day event ended with the Red and Blue taking fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.

The Dukes, who finished the championship in a school-best fourth place with 417 team points, will surely miss the seven seniors who won't be back next year, but still have plenty of young talent to continue its climb in the A-10 standings.