Freshmen Shine in Loss to MSU

October 20 | Women's Swimming & Diving

East Lansing, Mich.

- The University of Akron swimming and diving team fell to Michigan State 186-114 in its first meet of the season.

The Zips had a lot of individual success, but couldn't get past the Big Ten foe of Michigan State.

"I think we had some highlights in the meet," first-year head coach Nittaya Klim said. "This meet allowed us to see where we stand as a team and I think we will continue to work hard in order to improve as the season goes on."

Senior leader and first-team All-MAC selection Danielle Beland won both butterfly events for the Zips. The Ottawa, Ontario (St. Peters HS) native clocked in a mark of 57:50 in the 100 and posted a time of 2:05.18 in the 200 to garner the victories.

Senior Melissa Young (North Canton, Ohio/West Chester University (Pa.) won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.27. Sophomore Cheri Baratto (Clinton, Ind./South Vermillion HS) tapped the wall in 1:09.05 to earn a third-place finish.

Freshman Kendall Karchner (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee HS) finished in second place in the 200 backstroke after posting a time of 2:08.71.

Fellow freshmen Cathryn Collins (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head HS) and Katelyn Lofland (Boise, Idaho/Home Schooled) impressed in the 500 free, finishing second and third respectively. Collins clocked in with a time of 5:07.15 and Lofland followed in at 5:16.75.

Lauren Parr (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson HS), one of 11 freshmen on the Zips, won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.15.

All-MAC selection, Katie Carter (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid HS) finished in second in the 3-meter diving event with a tally of 234.38. She recorded a fourth-place finish in the 1-meter with a mark of 248.16.

Senior Melissa Holbach (Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS) bested Carter for a third place in the 1-meter with a score of 250.50.

Akron will open up Mid-American Conference play next Friday, Oct. 27, when they travel to Oxford, Ohio to battle the Miami Redhawks. All the action is set to begin at 5 p.m. EDT.