Indiana Swimming & Diving Earns Three Quality Wins

Friday, October 30

Bloomington, IN

2:00 PM

Indiana University

233

Kentucky

Indiana Swimming & Diving Earns Three Quality Wins

10/30/2015 8:50:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Hoosiers men's and women's swimming and diving teams posted three wins in a highly-competitive quad meet with three of the top teams in the nation on Friday afternoon at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.

The No. 9-ranked Hoosier men defeated No. 11 Tennessee, 156-144, and Kentucky, 233-67. IU lost to No. 12 North Carolina, 152-146.

On the women's side, the No. 11-ranked Hoosiers defeated Kentucky, 230-70, but fell to No. 9 Tennessee, 153-145, and No. 5 North Carolina, 180-120.

In total, the men's and women's swimming teams totaled 10 individual victories in the meet. Blake Pieroni won three events, with Tanner Kurz and Miranda Tucker each sweeping the 100 and 200 breaststrokes for the Hoosiers. Gia Dalesandro (200 butterfly), Kennedy Goss (500 freestyle) and Ali Khalafalla (50 freestyle) each had one win for IU on the day.

"Sometimes you learn from swimming against good programs and you have to learn the hard way," IU head swimming coach Ray Looze remarked. "We ran in to some fantastic teams today. I thought we could have won more, but the scoreboard tells the truth. We have some work to do, but it's a great group and I know they will take this to heart and we will come out strong the next time."

For the Hoosier divers, the team's great effort was highlighted by a win in the 1-meter springboard by Lacey Houser. Her winning score of 293.00 was a NCAA Zones qualifying mark. Michal Bower led the IU women in the 3-meter, finishing third with a NCAA Zones qualifying score of 287.75.

On the men's side, Cody Coldren posted a NCAA Zones qualifying score of 330.80 to place third, while Joshua Arndt finished seventh with 301.40. In the 1-meter, Arndt placed fourth with a total of 341.60, while Coldren was sixth with 323.30. Both scores are NCAA Zones qualifying marks for the IU duo.

"Overall we had a really great meet," assistant diving coach Kelly Gufford said. "Everyone dove really well and had a great showing. It was a tremendous day overall. It was a big win for Lacey Houser in the 1-meter with four teams competing. She put together a great list and we are really proud of her."

Cody Coldren went dual-meet personal-best on 1-meter which was awesome and Michal put together a big list of dives on 3-meter and that produced a zone cut for NCAA's."

In the first swimming event of the meet, the 200 medley relay, the men's team of Bob Glover, Tanner Kurz, Max Irwin and Ali Khalafalla placed second in a time of 1:27.53 – the fastest time of any IU team this season. For the women, the relay team of Marie Chamberlain, Lilly King, Gia Dalesandro and Gabriela Rajic finished third in a time of 1:41.25. Their time was also the fastest yet this season for the Hoosiers.

In the 1000 freestyle, the Hoosier women saw Haley Lips place second overall in a time of 9:55.37, while Stephanie Marchuck finished third in 9:59.52. For the men, Jackson Miller was the runner-up in a time of 9:07.61 – just one second off his career-best mark.

Blake Pieroni tallied his first of three individual wins in the 200 freestyle, taking first with a NCAA B cut time of 1:35.91, while Anze Tavcar placed fourth in a time of 1:38.60. On the women's side, Kennedy Goss placed third with a NCAA B cut time of 1:47.41, while Haley Lips came in fourth in 1:49.15.

In the 100 backstroke, Bob Glover led the IU men, placing third in a NCAA B cut time of 48.20, while Ryan Gordon came in fifth at 49.98. For the women, Gia Dalesandro finished fourth (55.35), while Marie Chamberlain placed fifth (55.46).

The 100 breaststroke was a great event for the Hoosiers on Friday. For the women, the freshman duo of Miranda Tucker and Lilly King finished first and second, respectively. Tucker clocked in at a personal-best time of 1:01.74, becoming the seventh-fastest 100 breast swimmer in school history. King was just off her best time of the season, timing in at 1:01.85. Both times were NCAA B cuts.

For the men, Tanner Kurz won his first of two events of the day with a NCAA B cut time of 54.52. Kurz's time was just off his season-best time of 54.33 he swam at Texas.

In the 200 butterfly, Gia Dalesandro touched the wall first in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:58.26. For the men, Max Irwin placed third with a season-best time of his own – 1:47.11 – earning a NCAA B cut.

Ali Khalfalla continued his great season, winning the 50 freestyle with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 20.05. On the women's side, Kaitlin Kitchens placed seventh with a season-best mark of 23.54.

Blake Pieroni was at it again in the 100 freestyle, winning in a time season-best time and NCAA B cut time of 43.64. Anze Tavcar placed third with a time of 44.85. For the women, Gabriela Rajic came in eighth in a season-best time of 51.36.

In the 200 backstroke, IU's Bob Glover took third place with a season-best time of 1:48.05, while Joseph Lane finished fifth in 1:49.14. Marie Chamberlain led the Hoosier women, placing sixth (2:00.42), while Rachel Matsumura finished seventh (2:01.11).

The freshman duo of Miranda Tucker and Lilly King did it again in the 200 breaststroke for the Hoosiers, finishing first and second overall. Tucker won her second event of the day with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 2:12.54, improving her place as the eighth-fastest 200 breast swimmer in school history. King placed second in a time of 2:14.96, earning a NCAA B cut.

For the men, Tanner Kurz completed his sweep of the breaststroke events, winning the 200 in a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:59.67.

It was another 1-2 finish for the Hoosier women in the next event – the 500 freestyle. Kennedy Goss won in a season-best time of 4:49.84, while Haley Lips placed second in a time of 4:50.36. Jackson Miller led the IU men, placing fifth with a mark of 4:29.52.

In the 100 butterfly, Gia Dalesandro finished fourth for the Hoosier women with a time of 54.55, while Max Irwin led the men with a fourth place finish of his own, clocking in at 48.38.

In the 200 individual medley, Blake Pieroni earned his third individual win of the meet, touching first in a NCAA B cut time of 1:48.38. Bob Glover finished third in a time of 1:50.72. Miranda Tucker continued her strong meet for the Hoosier, leading the women in the 200 IM with a fourth place finish in a time of 2:03.11.

In the final event of the night – the 400 free relay – the Indiana men's team of Anze Tavcar, Ali Khalafalla, Oliver Patrouch and Blake Pieroni won in a season-best time of 2:55.85. For the Hoosier women, the team of Kaitlin Kitchens, Gabriela Rajic, Kennedy Goss and Haley Lips finished third in a time of 3:23.91 – the fastest time for any IU team this year.

The Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams will be back in action on November 7 when the teams head south to face Auburn. The meet is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.