Bulldogs open season with Day 1 of Chick-Fil-A Invitational

Friday, October 6

Fresno, CA

11:00 AM

Fresno State

CHICK-FIL-A INVITATIONAL

Bulldogs open season with Day 1 of Chick-Fil-A Invitational

10/6/2017 4:25:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

Meet Results (PDF)

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State and four visiting schools competed in 11 swimming events and two diving competitions over two sessions to open the Chick-Fil-A Invitational on Friday at the Aquatics Center.

After the first day, No. 2 California, which has four Olympians on its roster, is in first place followed by San Diego State, Nevada, Fresno State, and San Jose State. The meet will conclude with seven more swimming events on Saturday.

Swimming Highlights

Junior Ugne Mazutaityte had the 'Dogs highest finish in the pool, placing second in the 100 Backstroke in 55.21 seconds. She finished nearly two seconds better than third place and came in behind only Cal star Amy Bilquist. Freshman Emily Cutler added a 10^th place finish for the Bulldogs.
In her Bulldog debut, junior transfer Osianna McReed was third in the 50 Free with a time of 23.85 seconds. She finished ahead of two Olympians from Cal while Rio gold medalist Kathleen Baker won the race in 23.55. Cutler was the next highest finisher for the 'Dogs at 15^th.
In the first individual event of the meet, the 500 Free, Mazutaityte placed fourth overall with a time of 5:01.49. Sophomore Emily Niles came in at 5:05.03 to place seventh in the 500 Free and junior Emma Monnich placed 10^th.
Freshman Zofia Niemczak was Fresno State's top finisher in three events. She placed sixth in the 100 Butterfly in 56.88 and paced the team in the 400 IM taking 8^th in 4:31.09. Niemczak also led the team in the 200 IM, placing 15^th overall at 2:09.28.
Manuela Mendolicchio took 8^th in the 100 Breaststroke and Kimberly Harbert was 10^th in the 100 Butterfly. In three relay events Fresno State's best finish came in the 800 Free Relay in which the "A" team of Mazutaityte, Cutler, Katelin Britton, and Niles placed fifth in 7:40.65

Diving Highlights

Sophomore Serena Sedillo led a strong Bulldog showing in both diving events. Sedillo placed second among 16 competitors in the 3-meter competition with a score of 290.80. Redshirt sophomore Irina Nikolaeva scored 241.45 to place seventh and Junior Kelli Funk was ninth at 233.10.
Sedillo was the top 'Dog in the 1-meter competition as well, placing fifth with a 260.75 score. Nikolaeva was right behind her in sixth place at 238.75 while Funk finished 14^th on the board.

Quotable
Head Coach Jeanne Fleck

On the day: "I'm really pleased. I saw a lot of great things today. For the first meet and how many events we swam it's like a workout, and that's why we have this meet so early. The divers were also really consistent and did a great job."
On the team: "We saw some great things from freshmen such as Zofia and Emily. Ugne was great in the 100 Back going up against one of the top backstrokers in the country. Irina hasn't dove in a year and a half and for her to get up there was great."
On Saturday: "Our last session is usually our best session when we go to conference so I'm excited to see what we're going to do tomorrow."

What's Next

The season-opening meet concludes on Saturday with five individual events and two team relays starting at 10 a.m. at the Aquatics Center. Admission is free and the first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free pink swim cap.

Chick-Fil-A Invitational Team Standings
1. #2 California – 879
2. San Diego State – 443
3. Nevada – 395
4. Fresno State – 332
5. San Jose State – 305

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