Bulldogs take home two relays, finish second at WPI Invite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Paced by a pair of relay victories, the Bryant University women's swimming and diving team finished second at the WPI Invitational this weekend.

The Bulldogs wrapped up competition on Sunday, finishing the three-day event with 2,783.5 points. Assumption won the 11-team invite with 2,826.5 points.

On Sunday, the Black and Gold claimed the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay. Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.), Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.), Taylor Poliseno (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) and Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) combined to win the 200 medley relay with a score of 1:46.47. In the 400 free relay, Rice, Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico), Salzano and Mackenzie Kirk (San Jose, Calif.) posted a time of 3:33.21 to win the event. The two wins gave Bryant four relay victories on the weekend after it claimed the 200 free and 400 medley relays on Saturday.

Individually, the Bulldogs saw a number of swimmers in the 'A' finals on Sunday. Rice won the 100 free with a time of 52.37 and then finished eighth in the 200 free. Kristie Chan (San Francisco, Calif.) also qualified for the finals in the 100 free, finishing 10th. Messina and Samantha Torrez (Whittier, Calif.) both made the cut in the 200 breast, finishing sixth and 10th, respectively.  Caitlin Dye (Natick, Mass.) finished sixth in the 50 back, while Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.) and Kirk placed seventh and 10th in the 400 IM.

Bryant's other top individual swims included Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.), Salzano, Watson and Jamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.). Daly finished sixth in the 200 free, Salzano (3rd) and Watson (9th) both finaled in the 100 back and Schaefer finished eighth in the 200 fly.

The Bulldogs also wrapped up one of their most successful performances on the boards. Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) dominated once again, winning the 1-meter dive with a score of 433.05 on 11 dives. Abernethy set the school record for 11 dives and also broke the school record in six dives with a score of 259.70. Ann Burdick (Glenmont, N.Y.) finished second in the event, while Stephanie Jennings (Elmont, N.Y.) and Carissa Stemen (Naples, Fla.) finished 5-6. On the weekend, Bryant's divers contributed 165 points and set four school records and posted nine personal best performances.

Bryant will now have over a month off before hosting Massachusetts on January 16th.