Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics
FRESNO, California – The Pepperdine women’s swimming and diving team returned to the pool after a 55-day break and fought toe-to-toe in Friday’s dual meet against Fresno State.
The meet was highlighted by four second-place finishes and strong times across the board as Pepperdine opened 2022 against a formidable Fresno State squad that earned a 148-100 victory.
MEET RECAP
Friday’s meet was a swim-meet only, and Pepperdine got things rolling in the first event as the team of Kara Coughlin (Evergreen, Colo./Evergreen HS), Emily Morton (Golden, Colo./Lakewood HS), Lexie Deitemeyer (Golden, Colo./Golden HS) and Alexandra Browne (Arlington, Va./Washington-Liberty HS) took second in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:50.09. Morton was rewarded by her strong showing in the 200-yard freestyle by placing second as well with a time of 1:58.32. She also took second in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:06.74.
In the 500-yard freestyle, Lindsay Hemming (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) paced the Waves with a second-place finish and a time of 5:14.02.
Third-place finishers included Emma Purdy (Truckee, Calif./Truckee HS) in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 54.10, Coughlin with a time of 2:12.34 in the 200 backstroke and the Waves’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Browne, Purdy, Hemming and McKenzie Kelly (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla Country Day School/California Baptist) with a time of 1:40.52.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Ellie Monobe said: “We had a great showing today in Fresno. Highlights included our second place B medley relay beating the A relay. Veteran Emily Morton also was a spectacle. Dropping a 2:06 in the 200 back, which is a dual meet best, was impressive. She also stepped up in the 400 IM, finishing with a 4:36 time.
“Other standouts included Lindsay Hemming swimming a gutsy 500 free as well as our 200-fly group of Ellie Mashkovich (Calabasas, Calif./Westlake HS), Jessica Calderoni (Los Altos, Calif./Sacred Heart Prepatory) and Tay Thomas (Pleasant Hill, Calif./College Park HS) all swimming dual meet bests. The last time we were in Fresno was 22 years ago with two very different teams, so it was a very cool reunion, and we hope to continue this tradition.”
NEXT UP: Pepperdine will be back in action tomorrow, January 15 at CSU Bakersfield for a meet with the Roadrunners and Fresno Pacific. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.