WSWM opens season with Wagner Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With a program-best second-place finish last winter, the Bryant University women's swimming and diving team opens its 2014-15 season on Friday afternoon with the goal of taking the next step.

Last winter, the Bulldogs put together a dominant championship meet but fell short of their goal. The strides the program have made are evident, however, as the Black and Gold have improved their point total and their place in each of the past four seasons.

This year's team will look to an experienced group of upperclassmen and an exuberant group of underclassmen to clear the final hurdle in the NEC. Leading the way will be seniors Alexandra Morreale (Short Hills, N.J.) and Mara Valenzuela (Bridgewater, N.J.) and juniors Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.), Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.), Jamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.) and Elisabeth Schauer (Pelham, N.Y.). Morreale has excelled in the breast events, finishing in the top eight in each of her first three years including a bronze in the 100 breast as a sophomore. Valenzuela was able to final in the 100 and 200 free and has been a crucial member of Bryant's relay teams. The Black and Gold will also look to senior Kailey Frye (Lakeville, Mass.) to score points in the dives. The first diver in program history, Frye will look to wrap up her career with a medal this season.

The juniors have a chance to be one of the most decorated classes in program history. Doerrman is the school record-holder in the 200 and 400 IM and has won back-to-back silver medals in 400 IM in her first two years. Messina just missed out on a medal in the 100 breast last winter, while Schaefer will look to get back to the podium this season after medaling as a freshman. Schauer enters her junior year with the ability to be the best backstroker in the NEC. She has medaled in the 100 and 200 back in each of her first two seasons and her eyes set on a gold medal this coming winter.

Bryant will also have to rely on its underclassmen that include sophomores Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.), Taylor Poliseno (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) and Samantha Torrez (Whittier, Calif.). Daly finished her rookie campaign with a flourish, setting a school record in the 1650 free while finishing third. She went on to finish fourth in the 500, fifth in the 200 and helped the 400 and 800 free relay teams earn All-NEC honors. Poliseno helped the 200 free relay team finish third, while Torrez earned a sixth-place finish in the 200 fly at NECs.

The Black and Gold will test themselves right out of the blocks as they host NEC preseason favorite Wager on Oct. 10. The Seahawks claimed the NEC title last winter and are the favorites to do it again this year. Friday's meet is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.