Kavalec, Giehl Lead Huskers to 6-0 Start

Lincoln ? Freshmen Brandie Kavalec and Julie Giehl combined for six wins to lead a Husker sweep in Nebraska’s double-dual meet against Iowa, Nevada and Nebraska-Omaha Friday and Saturday at the Devaney Natatorium.

 

The Huskers were challenged the most by defending WAC champion Nevada, who took NU down to the wire in a 125-118 battle on Friday and a 158-142 contest on Saturday. Friday’s meet also included a win over in-state foe Nebraska-Omaha (205-31), while Saturday’s competition came with a victory over Iowa (170-130) to move Nebraska to 6-0 on the season for the third time in the past four seasons.

 

Kavalec and Giehl built early Nebraska advantages both days as Kavalec won the 1,000- (10:23.96) and 1,650-yard freestyle races (17:28.31) in the first individual events of the meet, while Giehl followed with wins in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.05, 1:52.17).

 

A native of Boulder, Colo., Giehl also won the 500-yard freestyle (5:03.55; 5:05.88) each day to run her season win total to seven.

 

Friday’s 500-free win came at a crucial time in the 10th event of the meet, as Nevada had won three-straight swimming races and the one-meter diving competition up to that point. The Huskers’ most recent win was in the fifth event, the 400-yard individual medley, by junior Christina Yemm (4:32.25) before Giehl broke the streak.

 

Following the 500-free, the Wolf Pack took the three-meter and 200-yard breaststroke before Nebraska’s 800-yard freestyle relay (junior Jenny Toler, Giehl, sophomore Mariah Hutchinson, freshman Kelsey Grushecky) clinched a Husker victory in a time of 7:37.33.

 

Aside from Yemm’s Friday victory in the 400-yard individual medley, all of the Husker wins came from freshmen.

 

Grushecky was the final NU newcomer to register a first-place finish, taking Saturday’s 100-yard butterfly (56.87) immediately after Giehl’s 500-free win that gave the Huskers a 131-114 advantage. Nevada would go on to win the three meter and 200-yard individual medley, but the Huskers’ runner-up 400-yard freestyle relay team edged out Nevada in the final event to wrap up its fourth dual win in two days.

 

Friday’s meet marked the first time this season the Huskers have swam the long-event format. It proved to be a positive for Nebraska with Kavalec’s win in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:28.31). One of five NU victories on the day, the Huskers didn’t win the meet until the final event of the day, the 800-yard freestyle relay (Toler, Giehl, Hutchinson and freshman Kelsey Grushecky) in a time of 7:37.33.

 

With a full month of competition under its belt, Nebraska now gears up for one of its most exciting meets in school history as NU hosts the four-day Husker Invitational from Nov. 15-18 at the Devaney Natatorium.

 

Next week (Nov. 9-11), the Husker divers will travel to Houston, Texas for the Houston Diving Invitational.

 

Saturday's Team Scores:

Nebrasaka 205, Iowa 31

Nevada 189, Iowa 47

Nebraska 125, Nevada 118 

 

Friday's Team Scores:

Nebrasaka 205, Nebraska-Omaha 31

Nevada 189, Nebraska-Omaha 47

Nebraska 125, Nevada 118