The Seattle University women's swim team made a valiant comeback attempt, but Simon Fraser University was able to hold off the Redhawks, 111-92, Saturday afternoon at the Connolly Center Pool.
Simon Fraser won six of the first seven events, with Karla Ruff (Seattle, Wash.) breaking through with a victory in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.33, just 12/100ths of a second ahead of Brianna Bailey of Simon Fraser. Rachel Leighter (Eugene, Ore.) started a stretch in which Seattle U won three straight events, touching the wall first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:10.50.
Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.) cruised to a seven-second victory in the 500 freestyle, posting a time of 5:15.68. Kevlyn Richards (Gig Harbor, Wash.) led a 1-2 finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:20.63, followed by Ruff in second place with a mark of 2:24.24.
Leighter also led off the 400 medley relay team, joining with Richards, Jane Liggett (Portland, Ore.), and Nicole Doi (Pleasanton, Calif.) for a second-place finish in 3:58.09. She then finished second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:59.56. Liggett finished second in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:11.05, while Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.) earned second-place finishes in both the 50 freestyle (24.88 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (54.01 seconds).
"We had some opportunities today that we did not take care of, but they are swimming fast. I can't really complain with the times they are posting. It would be nice to get some victories, but to see them progress the way they are is good to see, as they will have to continue to improve as the season moves along," Seattle U head coach Craig Nisgor said.
The Seattle University women's swim team will next compete at the Husky Invitational Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.