Jan. 30, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Senior Margo Ekstrom and freshman Joanna Budzis were named Pitt Performers of the Meet, as the women’s swimming and diving team dropped a 167-121 meet to Virginia, at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Panthers slipped to 5-5 in dual meet action.

"The Panthers competed tough against one of the top dual meet teams in the nation in the Virginia Cavaliers," Head Coach Chuck Knoles said.

"This meet allowed us to put a little pressure on ourselves with a little more than two weeks left before the Big East Championships.” Knoles added. For the most part, I was very pleased with how our athletes stepped up today."

Ekstrom swept the 1M and 3M diving events, this afternoon. She recorded 262.65 points on the 1M board and a score of 301.50 on the 3M.

As a whole, the divers dominated both boards, posting the top four scores in each event. Junior Mallory Mullady, senior Alyssa Ferraro and junior Morgan Speece posted the second through fourth-best scores, respectively, in the 1M event. Then, on the 3M board, Speece, Mullady and Ferraro set the line.

In swimming events, Budzis placed second in the 200 free and 200 back. Additionally, she recorded season bests in the 200 free (1:51.29), 200 back (2:01.61) and the 200 IM (2:04.75) on the day.

Recording a first-place finish, freshman Kelsey Herbst turned in a personal best of 10:04.60 in the 1000 free. She was also third in the 500 free.

Pitt will honor its seniors and conclude its dual meet season on Saturday, Feb. 6, against Clarion, CMU and Cal U. Diving begins at 11 with swimming following at noon.