Jan. 21, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The UNLV men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept a Mountain West Conference meet at Air Force on Friday afternoon, with the men (6-1, 2-1) rallying for a 119-118 victory while the women (7-4, 5-1) won easily 164-76.

Trailing 110-91 with two events left, the Rebel men went 1-3-4-5 in the 200 breast to close within 114-106, and then took first and third in the final event, the 400 free relay, to top the host Falcons by one point. Winning the final relay for UNLV was Devin Phillips, John Pittenger, Magnus Egmar, and John Byers in a time of 3:06.17, to the Air Force team's time of 3:08.13. Also taking wins for UNLV was the 400 medley relay, Brandon Nelms in the 50 free (21.16), Michael Day in the 200 fly (1:52.66), Joe Bartoch in the 100 free (46.51), and Patrick Adams in the 200 breast (2:08.00).

The UNLV women dominated the meet, winning 11 of 13 events. Julie Babin and Jessica Field both won two events on the day. Babin won both the 1000 free (10:43.56) and the 200 breast (2:28.28), while Field took both diving events, the 1-meter (245.47) and the 3-meter (256.28). Also winning events was Kari Nettenstrom in the 200 free (1:57.54), Amber Walker in the 50 free (24.70), Nicole Cirulis in the 200 fly (2:15.95), Marina Sandback in the 100 free (52.96), and Megan Hunt-Higgins in the 200 back (2:16.34).

Both Rebels teams will stay on the road as they take on Wyoming on Saturday in Laramie at 1 pm (PST).