MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho swimming and diving team fell just short against Northern Colorado in the 2022-23 home opener, falling to the Bears 149-151 on Friday night at the UI Swim Center.
 
"Obviously we would have loved to have come away with a victory but we sure didn't lose today," Idaho head coach Mark Sowa said. "We had some great performances and lost a couple of tight races. But we won our share of close races as well. This is what college athletics is supposed to be about, two teams competing with joy and making each other better through the journey of competition. We got a lot better today."
 
A dual that went down to the wire was highlighted by five individual wins, including three events in that Idaho earned the top three times. 
 
Bethany Rahn and Kaling Phung got things going for the Vandals, picking up back-to-back victories in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, respectively. The Vandals went 1, 2, 3 in the 200 free with Rahn posting a first-place finish at 1:54.79, followed by Rylie Jones (1:55.43) and Sarah Shaffer (1:55.70). Phung outlasted her teammate Ani Husaby for first place, finishing .19 seconds ahead with a time of 57.56. 
 
Diver Emily Mack edged out Northern Colorado's Nadine Coulie in the 1-meter dive to win with a score of 261.60. 
 
The Vandals posted 16 team points after a dominant sweep in the 200-yard backstroke. Senior Morgan Votava clocked in at 2:08.66 to earn first place while Phung followed right behind at 2:08.67. Haylee Buyers rounded out the scorers for Idaho in third with a time of 2:08.87. 
 
Freshman Grace Ruble continued to impress in her first conference home meet. The Indianapolis, Ind. native earned first in the 200-yard individual medley while Zoe Froh came in second in 2:10.63. 
 
The Vandals return to the UI Swim Center in two weeks for a conference matchup against Seattle University on Nov. 11.