Despite Solid Swim, Alaska Falls 127-78 To Loyola Marymount :: Two teams to rematch tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in Patty Center pool

Oct. 21, 2007

FAIRBANKS, AK- The Alaska Nanooks swim team opened their 2007-08 home season with an efficient performance in the first of their two meets against Division I Loyola Marymount. The Nanooks took first place in five of the meet's 11 events, though the Lions prevailed overall by a score of 127-78.

Newcomer Mariya Pavlovskaya continued to impress in just her second competitive meet in the Blue and Gold. The Russian native showed her versatility in winning both the 200 IM and 200-yard backstroke events, recording a comfortable 2.66 second victory in the latter with a solid time of 2:11.77.

In another encouraging sign for the Nanooks, sophomore Kelly Becker seems to have picked up just where she left off from her All-American season last year, winning the 200 butterfly with an impressive time of 2:10.06. Becker (butterfly) and Pavlovskaya (breaststroke) also played key roles in the Nanooks' victory in the 400 medley relay, joining backstroke Jacqueline van Driessche and anchor Sam Zinsli (freestyle) on what Alaska believes will be a nationals-caliber relay team.

Alaska also demonstrated their strength in distance swimming, taking two of the top three spots in the 1650-yard freestyle. Freshman Kinsey Laine produced an outstanding performance in the marathon event, never looking back once she caught and passed Loyola's early leader Rebecca Plume around the halfway mark. The Nanooks' Heidi Tilicki also finished third in the race, unable to catch Plume despite a late charge.

Another of Alaska's distance specialists, Zinsli, later placed second in the 500-yard freestyle.

Alaska and Loyola Marymount now face a quick turnaround as they return to the Patty Center pool for a Sunday morning meeting, with the first races are set to begin at 9:30 a.m.