Feb. 21, 2015 Complete Results
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) -
The UNLV women's swimming and diving team improved on last year's finish by two spots, placing fifth after the final night of competition ended on Saturday at the 2015 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, held at the Palo Alto Aquatic Center. The Rebels scored 312.5 points for the four-day meet, while Wyoming was fourth with 420. San Diego State won the team title with 704.5 points, Boise State was second with 679.5 points and Nevada, Reno came in third with 554 points. Due to UNR's higher finish in the meet, the Wolf Pack receive the swimming points this year in the Governor's Series, the all-sports competition between the two schools presented by NV Energy and sponsored by Barrick Gold.
The final event of the meet was also the best of the final day for the Rebels, as Elena Gavrilova, Lina Rathsack, Michelle Troup and Julia Fehervari turned in a second place finish in the 400 free relay in a NCAA 'B' provisional time of 3:17.58, a time just .06 off the school record. The next best finish on Saturday was provided by Rathsack, who was third in the 200 breast in 2:13.88, a 'B' time and the second fastest in team history.
In the night's first event, the 1650 free, Josefine Hippi placed 13th in 16:58.65 to lead off the scoring for the Rebels. That ranks her ninth on the UNLV record books. Following that was the 200 back, where Jessica Wong also recorded a 'B' time, touching the wall in 1:59.01 to place 11th. It was a career-best swim from Wong, moving her to ninth all-time at UNLV in the event.
UNLV placed three swimmers in the scoring heats of the 100 free. Michelle Troup led the way by coming in sixth in 49.74, just .01 seconds ahead of teammate Fehervari in seventh place. Both times are 'B' times, and rank fifth and sixth in program history. Gavrilova would score 11th in the race after touching the wall in 50.21. The final swimmer to score for UNLV was Gözde Tekin, 12th in the 200 fly in 2:02.72, ninth-fastest time ever at UNLV.
The Rebel divers posted a pair of top-16 finishes as well, as Michele Serra was 14th with a score of 206.95, while Taylor Shillingburg was 16th after posting a score of 189.20.
2015 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
Palo Alto Aquatic Center
San Antonio, Texas
Saturday, February 21
Fourth Day Results
Team Scoring
1. San Diego State - 704.5
2. Boise State - 679.5
3. Nevada, Reno - 554
4. Wyoming - 420
5. UNLV - 312.5
6. Air Force - 281
7. San Jose State - 222
8. Fresno State - 187
9. New Mexico - 180
10. Colorado State - 172.5
Top-Eight Finishes
200 Breast: 3rd place - Lina Rathsack (2:13.88*)
100 Free: 6th place - Michelle Troup (49.74*), 7th place - Julia Fehervari (49.75*)
400 Free Relay: 2nd place - 3:17.58 (Elena Gavrilova, Lina Rathsack, Michelle Troup, Julia Fehervari)
^ - NCAA 'A' Automatic Time
* - NCAA 'B' Provisional Time
