SMU Swimming Defeats Rice, 156-106, In Season Opener

HOUSTON (SMU) – The SMU women’s swim team opened the season with a 156-106 defeat of Conference USA rival Rice on Saturday at Rice Competition Pool. The Mustangs won 12 of the meet’s 14 events and set seven pool records.

Sophomore Nina Rangelova was the top Mustang performer, winning three individual events and helping the 200-yard freestyle relay team take gold with a time of 1:36.10. Rangelova finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.96), the 100-yard freestyle (51.23) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:55.28).

Senior Therese Svendsen also had a strong showing, earning top honors in two solo events and assisting in a first-place relay finish. She won both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 56.57 and 2:02.02, respectively. Svendsen, along with Erica Donadon, Genny Konicke and Emily Vavourakis, topped Rice with a time of 1:43.96 in the 200-yard medley relay.

Donadon and Denisa Smolenova each won two individual events. Donadon clocked in with a time of 1:03.8 to win the 100-yard breaststroke and took first with a time of 2:18.77 in the 200-yard breaststroke. Butterfly specialist Smolenova won the 100-yard fly (56.11) as well as the 200-yard fly (2:02.82).

Konicke also picked up an individual title, winning the 50-yard freestyle after touching the wall in 24.32.

The Mustangs will be back in action as they host the annual SMU Classic on Oct. 21-22 in Perkins Natatorium.