Huskers Top Panthers in Season Opener

Cedar Falls, Iowa- The Nebraska swimming and diving team started its season off strong with a 154-86 win over Northern Iowa on Friday at Henry Pool.

Junior captain Kaylyn Flatt and sophomore Tori Beeler each recorded a pair of individual victories for the Big Red, divers Abigail Knapton, Katrina Voge and Grace Tiernon fueled a dominant performance on the boards in the win.

The Big Red started the meet with a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with Carla Gonzales-Garcia, Tori Beeler, Dana Posthuma and Lindsay Helferich (1:47.38).

In the 1,000-yard freestyle, team captain Kaylyn Flatt notched a victory (10:19.24) and Bridget Pacilio followed for second (10:32.92).

Freshman Autumn Haebig found a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.43), followed by Savannah Savitt in third (1:56.87).

Helferich got on the board again for the Huskers with a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (24.67), while Beeler swam to victory in the 200-yard IM (2:06.87). Team captain Jordan Ehly followed behind Beeler for third place (2:06.87).

Junior diver Katrina Voge won the one-meter dive with her score of 267.90. Voge's winning score earned her an NCAA qualifying standard to compete in postseason competition in the event. Freshman Grace Tiernon placed second at 248.47.

Freshman Izzie Murray claimed her first collegiate victory in the 100-yard butterfly (56.44) followed by Posthuma (57.15).

Allie Worrall and Gonzales-Garcia came in second and third in the 100-yard freestyle, respectively (53.90 and 53.98).

Haebig earned another second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke with her time of 57.62, and team captain Anna McDonald finished third (58.95).

Flatt secured her second win of the night for the Huskers in the 500-yard freestyle (5:03.26), followed by Rachel Powers for second (5:08.10) and Allison Kopas for third (5:10.70).

All-American Abigail Knapton won the three-meter dive with her score of 290.63, while Voge (270.53) and Tiernon (239.85) completed a sweep of the top three spots on the three-meter board for the Big Red. Knapton's score provided an NCAA qualifying score, while Voge's score was less than 10 points off the NCAA standard for 2017-18.

Beeler added her second victory of the meet with a win in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.12), while Ehly finished third (1:05.88).

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Big Red finished strong and took the top three finishes. Helferich, Worrall, Haebig and Pentlarge (1:38.28) came in first. Marvin Sutton, Kopas, Murray and Shea Bougie finished second (1:39.66) and Gonzalez-Garcia, Savitt, Sickle and Flatt came in third (1:41.01).

The Huskers will look to continue their hot start in the home opener at the Devaney Nataorium against Iowa State on Oct. 21.