MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's swimming and diving team won a total of eight events in its dual against the University of South Dakota Friday evening.

USD won the meet by the final score of 154-146.

"Tonight was a great starting point for our team's season," head coach Nathan Owens said. "The coaches and I were very happy with the team's effort, their energy, and the level of support the girls had for one another throughout the meet. We had some great races and performances to start the season. 

"The team battled all night and the meet came down to the last few events and even though we lost the meet, there's a lot the we can take away from tonight and build off of moving forward. The plan is keep getting better everyday. If this team and do that, they should be pretty darn good at the end of the year."

The duo of junior Alycia Holwerda and sophmore Maggie Knier each came away with a pair of victories for the Mavericks Holwerda turned in the top times in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.52) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:28.28), while Knier topped the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.20 and the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.48.

Senior Taylor Bass won the 100-yard butterfly event with a time of 58.42, while senior Chelsea Calhoon took first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.25) as well.

The Mavericks also won a pair of relay events, including the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. The quartet of Kirsten SiebengaKnier, Bass, sophomore Kirsten Siebenga and senior Cecilia Hake finished with a time of 1:38.76 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while the team of Hake, freshman Lily Borgenheimer, senior Kylie Gaeth and Knier finished the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:47.97.

Minnesota State returns to action on Friday, Oct. 13, as it travels to UW-Eau Claire. The dual is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.

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