Eau Claire, Wis. ---  The Minnesota State University women's swimming and diving team opened the 2011-12 campaign Friday evening with a convincing 140.5-95.5 victory at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Minnesota State recorded 32 top-five finishes and finished first in nine races.

In the relays, Minnesota State won the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:47.53.  That relay team was made up of senior Stefanie Edwards, junior Marissa Reeve, senior Emily Timm and senior Megan Pickert.  MSU also finished fourth (4:00.33) in the 400-yard freestyle.  In the 400-yard medley relay, MSU finished second (4:15.88) and fourth (4:26.17).  

On the diving board, freshman Melissa Runquist won the one-meter (165.85) and the three-meter dives (166.80) while freshman Nicole Nohelty was second in the one-meter dive (148.30).

Claiming individual titles for MSU was junior Nicole Blum who won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:01.61 and the 500-yard freestyle (5:26.43).    Edwards won the 200-yard freestyle, touching in 2:02.57, while sophomore Nicole Bennett won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:18.57 and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:36.92.  Rounding out the individual title winners was sophomore Nora Stauber who won the 100-yard freestyle in :55.79.

Other Mavericks scoring points in the win include: Reeve (third-place, 1,000-yard freestyle, 11:26.26; third-place, 200-yard backstroke, 2:21.45),  Stauber (second-place, 200-yard freestyle, 2:02.75), junior Nicole Carlton (third-place, 200-yard freestyle, 2:04.09; second-place, 500-yard freestyle, 5:29.90), Pickert (second-place, 50-yard freestyle, :26.11; fourth-place, 100-yard freestyle, :57.28), freshman Tessa Cady (third-place, 50-yard freestyle, :26.68), sophomore Stephanie Jordan (tied fifth-place, 50-yard freestyle, :27.13), Timm (third-place, 200-yard individual medley, 2:20.39; second-place, 200-yard backstroke, 2:19.39), sophomore Alyssa Larson (fourth-place, 200-yard individual medley, 2:23.28; third-place, 200-yard butterfly, 2:27.29), Blum (second-place, 200-yard butterfly, 2:22.42), Edwards (fifth-place, 100-yard freestyle, :58.06), junior Amber McHugh (second-place, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:37.16) and sophomore Hannah Walsh (fourth-place, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:44.67).

Minnesota State returns to the pool Nov. 5, when it travels to St. Olaf Invitational.  

To view the complete results, click HERE