Swimming and Diving Hosts UMBC in Season Opener on Saturday

10/1/2015 6:09:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's and women's swimming and diving teams open their 2015-16 season at home against UMBC on Saturday at Kinney Natatorium. The unscored meet, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, will mark the ninth straight year the Bison teams open against the Retrievers.

The Bucknell women are coming off a 7-4 season, including a 4-3 mark in the Patriot League. The Bison kicked off the year with 11 individual wins in the meet against UMBC. Eight of those wins came by current members of the team, including three apiece by returning NCAA qualifier Emma Levendoski and Juliana Foss. Levendoski's victories came in the 50, 100 and 200 back, while Foss dominated the butterfly, taking first in the 50, 100 and 200 fly. Other individual wins came from Dani Potis (1000 free) and Amber McDonnell (400 I.M.)

The Bison men are fresh off a 7-4 season and solid 5-2 mark in the Patriot League. Paced by three wins from Chris Devlin (100 back, 200 back, 200 free), Bucknell won nine times against UMBC last year, including seven by current members of the team. Triston Loux was the top finisher in the 50 and 100 fly events, while Louis Behnen (400 I.M.) and Colin Lynch (50 back) won one event apiece.

Both UMBC teams went 3-2 last season prior to winning their respective conference championships. The women earned their first America East title since 2011, while the men finished first at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Championships. The Retrievers won the men's event by more than 200 points.

The meet with UMBC is the first of five home events for Bucknell this season. The Bison will host Pitt (Oct. 24) and Wagner (Jan. 17) in head-to-head competition, a quad meet with American, Navy and Lafayette (Nov. 7), and the Bucknell Invitational (Nov. 20-22).