Buffalo Zips Past Akron

Jessica Ballard earns three individual wins

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s swimming and diving team defeated MAC rival Akron this afternoon at the Alumni Arena Natatorium, 163-137, to improve their record to 6-2 (3-2 MAC).

Jessica Ballard

Buffalo opened the meet with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay, followed by a clean sweep of the 1650 freestyle, claiming spots one through four. The Buffalo pack was lead by distance specialist Jordan Deren (17:33.94), followed by teammates Kim Dale (17:47.58), Alisa Koopman (17:52.09) and Amanda Reall (18:03.79), who finished respectively. A first place finish from Jessica Ballard in the 100 backstroke (58.58) and a 1-2 finish in the 100 breaststroke from Brynn Mareck (1:05.44) and Ashley Schaffert (1:07.99) kept Buffalo in the lead going into the first diving break.

After diving, Ballard earned her second and third win of the day, finishing first in the 200 backstroke, with a season-best time, 2:06.53, and again in the 200 IM, with a time of 2:08.51. Buffalo earned first and second in the 100 butterfly, as Sam Eckert flew to a season-best time of 58.15, while Sam Palma followed closely in 59.22. Meili Carpenter swept the diving events for the second day in a row, scoring 268.80 on the one-meter board, and 295.80 in the three-meter event.

Meili Carpenter

The Bulls will be back in action next Friday, January 30, as they host St. Bonaventure in the final home meet of the season. Buffalo will honor its two seniors, Rachel Sorg and Kevin Schuster before the meet, which is slated for 6:00 pm at Alumni Arena Natatorium.