Gabi Albiero Leads Louisville to Win Over Indiana

Louisville Cardinals Women Def. Indiana Hoosiers

• Indiana vs. Louisville
• Counsilman Billingsley Aq. Center, Bloomington, IN
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Mobile- “IU – Louisville”
• Meet Results (pdf)

The Indiana women hosted the Louisville women at home on Friday, January 14th. Both teams suited up for the meet. 

Neither team has competed since the fall semester. Indiana had their scheduled meet on January 8th at Michigan due to COVID-19. The Louisville meet scheduled against Missouri on January 8th was also canceled. This was Indiana’s first meet without 2021 Big Ten Champion Emily Weiss as she announced her medical retirement this week on Instagram. 

The Louisville women won 11 out of 16 events (including diving) in their 182-118 victory over Indiana. They also swept the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly. Sophomore Gabi Albiero led the way as she was victorious in every event she competed in. Individually, she won both the 50 freestyle (22.25) and the 100 butterfly (51.63). She anchored the 200 medley relay (1:36.72) in a time of 21.55. She also led off the 400 freestyle relay (3:14.26) in a time of 48.78. Her 100 butterfly time was faster than she went at the midseason Purdue Invitational and just off of her personal best from the 2021 ACC Championships. The season best now moves her up from eleventh to ninth in the NCAA this season. 

Louisville also had more multi-event winners. Sophomore Liberty Williams won both the 1000 (9:33.23) and 500 (4:40.10) freestyles. Junior Abby Hay also captured two victories as she won the 200 butterfly (1:55.87) and the 400 IM (4:12.37). Freshman Rye Ulett (high school class of 2022) graduated early and made her debut for the Cardinals. She won the 100 backstroke in a time of 53.29 and finished second in the 200 backstroke (1:54.71). 

Indiana went 1-2 in both diving events. Fifth year Kristen Kayden won both the 3 meter (362.10) and the 1 meter 319.50. Sophomore Tarrin Gilliand earned second place in both the 3 meter (342.30) and the 1 meter (314.93). 

The Peplowski sisters led Indiana in the swimming events as they each captured an individual victory. Senior Noelle Peplowski won the 100 breaststroke (59.75) and was runner up in the 200 breaststroke (2:08.89). Her younger sister, Anna Peplowski, was victorious in the 200 backstroke (1:54.19). Noelle’s 100 breaststroke time was 0.04 seconds faster than she was at the Ohio State Invitational.

Other event winners include:

• 200 freestyle: Ella Ristic, Indiana (1:45.66)
• 100 freestyle: Arina Openysheva, Louisville (48.69), only 0.14 seconds slower than she swam at the mid-season Purdue Invitational

Indiana’s next meet is scheduled for Saturday, January 22nd at home against Big Ten rival Purdue University. Louisville has their next meet scheduled for Saturday, January 22nd at home against in-state rival the University of Kentucky.