Bulldogs dominate Holy Cross on Senior Day

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's swimming and diving team swept four events on their way to a dominating 190-67 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center Pool.

On a day the Bulldogs honored their senior class, they won 12 individual events and took home both relay events.

Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.), Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.), Taylor Poliseno (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) and Dana Yu (Bridgewater, N.J.) opened the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay. They posted a time of 1:50.01.

The Black and Gold then followed with a dominating performance in the individual events. Salzano and Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) finished 1-2 in the 1000 free and Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.) and Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico) matched them in the 200 free.

Mackenzie Kirk (San Jose, Calif.) and Caitlin Dye (Natick, Mass.) kept it going with a 1-2 finish in the 100 back and Messina, Danielle Whitaker (Narragansett, R.I.) and Shannon Hickey (Bel Air, Md.) gave Bryant's first sweep of the afternoon in the 100 breast. Kristie Chan (San Francisco, Calif.), Emilie Despres (Needham, Mass.) and Dye then swept the 50 free, while Yu, Daly and Watson swept the 100 free. Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.), Whitaker and Hickey earned Bryant's final sweep of the day, claiming the top three spots in the 200 breast.

Bryant's other notables included first-place finishes from Doerrman in the 200 fly, Salzano in the 200 back, Rice in the 500 free and 200 IM and Yu in the 100 fly.

Rice, Watson, Salzano and Poliseno completed the Black and Gold's afternoon with a victory in the 200 free relay.

The Bulldogs head to the University of Rhode Island next weekend for their final tuneup before the Northeast Conference Championships.