Bryant visits Harvard Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a successful first weekend of competition, the Bryant University women's swimming and diving team is back in the pool this weekend. The women compete in the New England Collegiate Challenge hosted by Harvard University on Sunday, Oct. 23.

The Black and Gold (1-1) split a pair of dual meets over the weekend, defeating Boston College on Friday before falling to Wagner College on Saturday. Bryant was led by the NEC Swimmer of the Week, Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, Mass.). Recognized with a weekly award for the fourth time in her career, Ostrander won four of the six events she competed in and also helped the 200 medley relay team to a pair of victories. Her wins in the 50 free, 100 back and 200 back helped the Bulldogs defeat an ACC school for the first time in program history.

Bryant also received excellent opening weekend results from a junior Molly Smith (Belmont, Mass.) and a slew of underclassmen. Smith set a pool record on Friday, winning the 200 breast with a time of 2:27.22. Sophomore Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) matched Ostrander with three victories vs. the Eagles, claiming the 1000 free, 500 free and 100 free. She was also part of the 400 free relay team that closed out the Bulldogs' victory with a first-place finish on Friday. Freshman Mara Valenzuela (Bridgewater, N.J.) opened her collegiate career by winning the 200 free and then swimming the final leg of the 400 free relay, gaining the lead with just under 40 yards to swim.

The women are slated to start at 2:00 p.m. in Cambridge, Mass.