Alaska Swim Team Continues To Build Despite 117-87 Loss To Loyola Marymount :: Pavlovskaya shines as Nanooks win six of 11 events on Sunday

Oct. 21, 2007

FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks swim team concluded their two day meet against Loyola Marymount today in solid fashion, improving on Saturday's performance by winning six of the meet's 11 events. The Nanooks managed to close the gap on the Lions, though Loyola prevailed in the end, 117-87.

"We knew we had our work cut out for us," said Lemley. "[Loyola Marymount] is a very strong team: the best Division I team in our conference. They have a lot of depth, and some very good swimmers, but I thought we held our own pretty well."

Alaska's women once again found themselves on the winning end of a medley relay, with the familiar team of Jacqueline van Driessche, Mariya Pavlovskaya, and Kelly Becker joined by freestyle anchor Karin Wagner to take first in the 200-yard race. The foursome nipped Loyola Marymount's top team by .91 seconds to win the race in 1:54.64.

Fresh off setting two varsity records in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM yesterday, Pavlovskaya proceeded to break another team mark in the 400 IM on Sunday, dominating the field on her way to a time of 4:42.93: a full 10.34 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. She was also first to the wall in the 100-yard breaststroke, which she swam in an excellent 1:10.65.

Junior Sam Zinsli showed her skill in the distance freestyle, coming in second the 1000-yard freestyle, just four seconds behind the Lions' Rebecca Plume, and placing first in the 500-freestyle, turning in a time of 5:24.63.

Becker and van Driessche gave the Nanooks other reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season. Not only did the duo win their respective races on Sunday (the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke), but both produced times that were within striking distance of team records: an encouraging sign this early in the young season.

For Loyola Marymount, sophomore Megan Sawelson won both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle, as the Lions rode their strength in sprinting throughout the two meets.

The Nanooks now have a week off before returning to action against Northern Colorado at the Patty Center on Nov. 2 and 3. The first races will begin on Friday, Nov. 2 at 4:00 p.m., while the following day's races will begin at noon.