SWIMMING AND DIVING at Liberty | vs. VMI
WHEN:  Friday, Jan. 26 at Liberty | 12 p.m. / Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. VMI (at Lynchburg, Va.) | 11 a.m.
WHERE:  Liberty Natatorium | Lynchburg, Va.
COVERAGE:  Big South Network

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's and women's swimming and diving teams will compete against Liberty on Friday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. and Virginia Military Institute at on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. Liberty Natatorium in Lynchburg, Va.

Last time out, the Mason men's and women's teams each recorded two wins, defeating American University and Boston University, while falling to Army on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Jim McKay Natatorium in Fairfax, Va.

The Mason women's team (5-5, 2-4 A-10) won six events on the day.  The Patriots earned a 213-84 win over American and a 159-141 victory against Boston University but were edged by Army 152-148, with the outcome decided in the final event of the afternoon.

The Mason men's team (7-1, 4-0 A-10) won four events, recording a 252-39 win against American and a 170-128 victory over Boston University, while dropping a 174-121 decision to Army.

On the women's side, the combination of seniors Amy Tansill and Dorothy Reilly along with juniors Marla Albanese and Theresa Cotter won the 200-yard medley relay (1:46.70).  Reilly was second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:07.24), placed third in the 200-yard IM (2:11.79) and finished fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (57.82).

Tansill swam to a first place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.90), Barahona took first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:20.70), Cotter won the 200-yard backstroke (2:04.91) and senior Rachel Williams claimed the top spot on the podium in the 100-yard freestyle (53.30).

On the boards, freshman Marina Toone won the three-meter diving event with a score of 270.60 and finished fourth in the one-meter springboard event with a score of 234.95.

On the men's side, the combination of senior Alec Morin, sophomores Logan Eubanks and Christopher Stankiewicz and freshman Andres Alarcon took the top spot in the 200-yard medley relay (1:32.62). 

Stankiewicz won the 100-yard breaststroke (56.90), sophomore Attila Kiss finished second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:39.32) and senior Matthew Lynch finished second in both the 100-yard butterfly (50.07) and 200-yard butterfly (1:50.74). 

Sophomore Ryan Donnelly recorded a second place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (1:51.20) and placed third in the 100-yard backstroke (51.55). 

Sophomore Gerald Hodges, Jr. won both diving events, posting a score of 313.65 in the one-meter and a score of 338.80 in the three-meter event. 

After the tri-meet against Liberty and VMI, the Patriots will compete in the Atlantic 10 Championships Feb. 14-17 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Mason will meet Liberty (9-2, 5-0 CCSA) for the first time in program history.  Friday's action will begin with the Liberty Natatorium grand opening ceremonies.

The Flames defeated Marshall 177-123 last Saturday, winning 12 swimming events, including 10 individual races and both relays. 

Senior Prudence Rooker won the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM, posting season-best times in each event.  She has been named CCSA Women's Swimmer of the Week each of the last two weeks, becoming the first athlete in program history to earn the honor in back-to-back weeks.

VMI is wrapping up its first season in the America East Conference.  The Keydet women's team has a dual meet record of 0-8, while the men's team is 1-7 on the season. 

VMI was swept in a tri-meet against UMBC and East Carolina last Saturday in Baltimore, Md.  The women's team fell 128-86, while the men's team dropped a 146-116 decision.