MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, October 13. THE California women's swimming and diving team came away with a sweep of its Midwest trip after defeating Minnesota, 188.5-108.5, on Friday at the University Aquatic Center. Sophomore Dana Vollmer won three individual events for the Golden Bears (2-0) and was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay against the Golden Gophers (0-1). Overall, Cal, which beat Northwestern yesterday, won 14 out of 16 events in its first meeting with Minnesota.
"We're excited to have swum well against a team with so much depth," Cal assistant coach Johan Steiner said. "What was nice to see was that our we took 1-2-3 in both breaststroke races, the 200 fly, 100 free and 200 back."
Vollmer won the 100 freestyle (49.93), 100 butterfly (54.46) and 200 butterfly (2:00.48).
"She swam some different races than yesterday," Steiner said. "It was a good barometer to see where she is in some unique races, with the 200 fly being one of them. She looked smooth through the whole race. She had an outstanding time in the 100 fly. And to swim a sub-50 100 free at this point in the season is impressive."
Cal won the first 11 events before the host Gophers won their first event. The Bears opened the meet by winning the medley relay, with senior Sherry Tsai leading off followed by sophomore teammate Jessica Hardy, Vollmer and junior teammate Emily Silver. The Cal B team won the race in a time of 1:41.21.
Next up, freshman Blake Hayter won her first individual race as a Bear when she easily took the 1000 freestyle in a time of 9:59.08. Fellow Cal freshman Jenna Wesley was third in 10:21.80.
"Blake looked strong all the way through, and to swim a sub-10 minutes in the 1000 right now is very good," Steiner said.
Senior Bear Erin Reilly won her first individual race of the season when she beat Silver, 1:48.76-1:49.26, in the 200 free.
Along with Vollmer, the other Bears who won multiple events included Hardy, who won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.01) and 200 breaststroke (2:14.48), Tsai, who won the 100 backstroke (55.18) and 200 individual medley (2:03.78), and freshman diver Samantha Young, who won the one-meter springboard (250.73) and three-meter springboard (273.83).
Young also swept both boards against the Wildcats yesterday in Evanston, Ill.
Bears sophomore Lauren Rogers won the 200 back, edging senior teammate Lauren Andrews, 2:01.06-2:01.98.
Minnesota won the 500 free (Yuen Kobayashi, 4:50.66) and 200-free relay (1:33.84).