VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota secured a victory over Minnesota State and Augustana in a multi-team swimming and diving meet on Friday

USD (1-0) recorded 218.5 points, while MSU (0-1) tallied 81.5.

"The coaches and I were very pleased with the team's overall performance tonight," head coach Nathan Owens said. "It was tough up hill sledding with a full long event format and so many 200's. We definitely have a fair amount of rust from the off season, but we saw a lot of bright spots to build on during the coming weeks. This meet was a good starting point, now we'll try to progress week to week, hopefully continue getting better and better. "

Sophomore Savannah Acker showcased her versatility and endurance by competing in multiple events. She was instrumental in the women's 200-yard medley relay, where her team secured a second-place finish with a time of 1:48.41. Individually, Acker secured a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.93 and contributed a second-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke, clocking in at 2:09.57. She continued her standout performance by clocking 2:13.88 in the 200 Yard Individual Medley. 

Sophomore Sydney Pippert demonstrated her sprinting abilities in the 200-yard medley relay, helping her team clinch second place. She also excelled in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing third with a time of 55.19, and contributed to the team effort in the 400-yard freestyle relay, where the Mavericks recorded a time of 3:40.17.

Freshman Jessica Paulsen competed fiercely in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in the top six with a time of 1:09.89, and again in the 200-yard breaststroke with a solid time of 2:32.37. Her consistent performance in breaststroke events bolstered the Mavericks' competitive edge.

Sophomore Aubrey Schueler, another 19-year-old Maverick, participated in the women's 200-yard medley relay that finished fifth with a time of 1:51.26. She also showed her strength in the 400-yard freestyle relay, contributing to a time of 3:49.66, demonstrating her reliability in both individual and team events.

Freshman Gracie Bartholomew helped her relay team in the women's 400-yard freestyle to a competitive finish, clocking in at 3:40.17. Individually, she competed well in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing sixth with a time of 25.78, adding valuable points to the Mavericks' overall score.

Sophomore Averi Larsen contributed significantly in the 200 Yard Medley Relay with a 30.29-second breaststroke leg. She further showcased her speed in the 50 Yard Freestyle, finishing third with a time of 24.93 seconds, and helped the team secure a third-place finish in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay with a split of 54.92 seconds.

Junior Natalie Freeman took first place in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 216.40. She also took second place in the 3-meter diving event with a score of 235.30.

Looking ahead, the Mavericks will compete in the St. Cloud Invite on October 11, 2025. The event is set to begin at 2 p.m. and will take place in Rochester, Minnesota. This competition will see Minnesota State as the visiting team.