Ball State University
Miami
Women's S&D Suffers Heartbreaking Loss To Miami
January 22, 2011 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In another down-to-the-wire meet, the Ball State women's swimming & diving team suffered a 152.5-147.5 setback to Mid-American Conference rival Miami Saturday afternoon at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
With Ball State holding a slim 143.5-139.5 advantage entering the final event, Miami's 400 freestyle relay edged out BSU's relay by 2.22 seconds to secure 11 points and the meet victory for the RedHawks.
The Cardinals, who posted seven event victories in the 16 events, started the meet strong with junior Nicole Saulters (Highland, Ind./Highland H.S.), freshman Bridgette Ruehl (Lowell, Ind./Lowell H.S.), senior Maria Gramelspacher (Jasper, Ind./Jasper H.S.) and sophomore Mallory Przybylinski (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) combining for a time of 1:47.66 to win the 200 medley relay.
Three events later, Saulters and freshman Haley Richter (Roanoke, Ind./Columbia City H.S.) turned in a 1-2 finish in the 100 backstroke with times of 58.24 and 58.81, respectively.
Ball Sate's next victory came on the one-meter diving board, where it took the first three slots. Junior Whitney Adams (Danville, Ind./Danville H.S.) led the charge with a winning score of 248.77.
In the meet's 10th events, Richter picked up BSU's fourth victory of the afternoon, posting a time of 2:06.45 in the 200 backstroke. Ruehl would follow with her second individual win of the afternoon, taking the top spot in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.21).
Two events later, senior Alanna Bader (Monroe, Wis./Monroe H.S.) got the Cardinals within striking distance of the meet lead with a first-place time of 57.95 in the 100 butterfly.
BSU took the lead after the next event, as junior Christina Riordan (Homewood, Ill./Homewood Flossmoor H.S.) turned in another NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying score of 287.47 to win the three-meter diving competition.
With Ball State leading 134.5 to 129.5 after three-meter diving, a 2-3-4 finish in the 200 IM led by Richter, kept the Cardinals ahead 143.5 to 139.5 entering the final event of the meet.
Unfortunately, Miami's A relay turned in a first-place time of 3:31.78 to score the 2.22 second victory over BSU's top relay.
The Ball State women's swimming & diving team returns to action Sunday, when it travels to Indianapolis for the Butler Invitational. The noon swim will take place at Fishers High School and feature Ball State, Butler, Hillsdale, Valparaiso and Xavier.
Players Mentioned
