POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 12, 2016) – The Vassar College women's swimming and diving team held their ground Saturday in a dual meet against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but the Engineers topped the Brewers 183-105 in action from Kresge Pool.
 
The Brewers started the day strong, taking second in the 400 medley relay. Kael Ragnini, Julia Cunningham, Sammy Stone and Meg Harrington combined for 4:14.55. Sammy Stone barely caught her breathe before a strong outing in the 1000 free, just one event later. Stone's 10:44.04 was good for first place in todays meet. Ragnini took third, Cali Corbett fifth, with times of 11:26.84 and 11:53.28, respectively.
 
Cunningham ran away with the 200 butterfly, an outstanding 11 seconds faster than her competition (2:06.07). The senior's time in the 200 fly was the third-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season, while also setting yet another "B" cut time for the NCAA Championships.
 
Cunningham was also stellar in the 100 butterfly (58.27), outlasting RPI's Shanny Lin (59.25) by nearly a second. Cunningham's 2:11.43 in the 200 IM was also good for first, three seconds shy of her school record (2:08.84).
 
"We gave it our all, we had some really surprising races and I think surprised them a little," said Cunningham.
 
Stone returned to the water in the 500 free, topping the board with a 5:11.07, just seven seconds shy of her school record (5:04.28). Meg Harrington swam a 2:07.96 in the 200 free and 58.48 in the 100 free, both good for third place.
 
On the diving boards Elisielle Wilson scored a 108.40, good for fourth place in the 1-meter diving event.
 
Harrington finished third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:07.96, a strong time for this part of the season. Emily McDaniels also scored in the event, as she posted a time of 2:15.77.  Freshman Sarah Boese clocked a 1:09.77 in the 100 backstroke for third place, and Corbett also earned points in the 50 free with a 27.58.
 
Boese was back in the pool for the 200 backstroke, as she was the runner up with a strong time of 2:26.02, earning four points. Senior captain Kayla Schwab booked four points with a time of 2:36.47 in the 200 IM, while Vassar's 200 free relay earned nine points thanks to a time of 1:47.77.
 
"We were happy with what happened, we know RPI is a strong team," said head coach Lisl Prater-Lee. "Across the board, we had some people put together some really good races, we have three weeks until Liberty Leagues and that's what they were tasked with."
 
The Brewers return to the water at the US Merchant Marine Academy Memorial Invitational next Saturday, November 19, at 11 am in Kings Point, NY.