Idaho (4-2) women's swimming and diving open the new year in Las Cruces to take on New Mexico State (3-3) and GCU (6-4). This will be the Vandals' first competition in over a month and their first conference competition in almost two.
The Vandals, Aggies, and Lopes square off Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10:30 a.m. PT inside the New Mexico State Swimming and Diving Complex.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
New Mexico State Aggies are coming into 2023 with three dual wins over North Texas (150-88), Colorado School of Mines (139-83) and UTPB (180-94). Last season, the Aggies took fourth in the WAC Championships scoring 476 points, where they broke five school records. The last time Idaho went up against New Mexico was in 2020, where the Vandals earned a 172-126 win.
ABOUT GRAND CANYON
GCU is primed this season after coming up short of first place at the 2021-22 WAC Championships. The Lopes have earned six wins this season, coming over Seattle U (twice), Loyola Marymount (twice), Arizona Christian and Ottawa (AZ). GCU head coach Steve Schaffer and his staff led the women's team to its best WAC Championship finish as well as many other achievements. The women recorded one WAC record in the 200-yard freestyle, seven podium finishes, nine GCU records, 10 WAC champions, nine NCAA "B" qualifying times, and 16 CSCAA National Invitational "A" qualifying times. The Lopes finished their season off at the CSCAA National Invitational where they placed ninth overall with 337.5 points. The last time Idaho faced GCU was in 2021 when the Lopes won 171-129.
IN THE WAC
Three Vandals are still in the top ten for individual events in the WAC. Senior
Ani Husaby is ninth in the 50 back with a time of 26.29.
Ella Haskins is seventh in the 50 free (23.50) and
Zoe Froh takes the sixth spot in the 400 IM (4:27.49).
LAST TIME OUT
In the Vandals' last conference match-up, Idaho secured a 204-89 win against Seattle U at home. The Vandals (4-2) won six individual events, two relays and both diving events to clinch their first conference win of the season.
Senior
Alexa Teneyck and freshman
Grace Ruble led the way for Idaho, winning two events each. Teneyck won the 200 and 500-yard freestyle, posting a time of 1:56.97 in the 200 and 5:14.09 in the 500. Ruble was victorious in the 400-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly. She edged out her teammate
Zoe Froh by .17 seconds to finish in the top spot at 4:32.80 in the IM before posting a 57.46 in the 100-yard butterfly.
Morgan Votava and
Ella Haskins each swam their way to individual wins. Votava posted a 58.86 in the 100-yard back while Haskins finished in 53.30 in the 100-yard free.
UP NEXT
The Vandals will make their way home to host Utah Tech for Senior Day on Saturday, Jan. 21.
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho swim & dive by visiting GoVandals.com or by following the team on Twitter and Instagram @vandalswim_dive.
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