VERMILLION, S.D. --- The Minnesota State women's swimming and diving team opened its season with a 169-129 loss to the University of South Dakota Friday evening.

With the win, USD improves to 1-0 in dual action this season, while MSU drops to 0-1.

"The coaching staff was pleased with the performances from our first competition of the season," head coach Nathan Owens said. "We did a lot of really good things and had some great races throughout the night against a Division I opponent. The meet was a great starting point for our team and something that we'll build off of.

"I was really impressed with our freshman and how they handled a challenging order of events. Our diving squad, featuring three freshmen, had a very solid early season meet also. We'll keep working hard to get better and get back after it again next week."

The Mavericks won a total of six events, including five individual events and one relay event.

The 200-meter relay team of senior Cheyenne Rova, freshman Maggie Knier, senior Nicole Bean and junior Cecilia Hake turned in a top-finish of 1:50.22. They were followed by another MSU team consisting of junior Kylie Gaeth, sophomore Kate Barnes, freshman Kirsten Siebenga and junior Taylor Bass, who turned in a time of 1:54.92.

Both Rova and sophomore Alycia Holwerda won a pair of individual events. Rova won both the 50-meter (27.00) and 100-meter (1:16.04) freestyle events, while Holwerda turned in the top times in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:16.04) and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:45.67).

Junior Chelsea Calhoon won the 200-meter IM event with a time of 2:32.23 as well.

Freshman diver Lauren Hake took second place in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 219.98, while freshman Jaycie Klein finished third in the 3-meter diving event with a score of 203.70.

The Mavericks return to action next week as they host UW-Eau Claire and Augustana on Friday, Oct. 14, at 5:00 p.m.

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