SWIMMING & DIVING NOTEBOOK
The Vermont women's swimming & diving team is set to compete against the Rhode Island Rams on Saturday (Jan. 20) in its final dual meet before the 2018 America East Championships (Feb. 15-18). The meet is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. at the Tootell Aquatic Center.

SENIOR DAY RECAP | Highlights
Nine swimmers in the Class of 2018 were honored prior to last Saturday's Senior Day meet against Northeastern: Katie Arend, Madeline Blumenfeld, Shannon Cowley, Stefi Geiger, Jess Gorham, Kira Hancock, Kelly Lennon, Alexy Novelli, Dani Rocheleau (who is graduating early in the Spring), and manager Hannah Dahlin. The Class of 2018 has combined for a dual meet record of 25-10 in their careers.

The Catamounts won two individual events as well as the final relay despite suffering a 182-118 loss to the Huskies at Forbush, dropping their overall record to 5-4 (3-2 AE). Rocheleau was victorious in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:07.29 while Haley Gula took the top spot in the 200 breaststroke in 2:26.13. Hancock raced to a pair of second-place finishes, stopping the clock in 24.34 in the 50 freestyle and 53.33 in the 100 freestyle.

Hancock, Lennon, Emily McCormack and Sexton concluded the meet by combining to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:32.27. Northeastern sophomore Megan Clark set a new Forbush Natatorium pool record of 23.66 in the 50 free, breaking the old mark of 23.85.

MAKE IT FIVE
For the second time in her rookie season, Emily Murphy was named the America East Diver of the Week on Tuesday afternoon. Murphy and classmate Haley Tomlinson have combined to win the award five times for UVM this season. Murphy placed second in the 1-meter dive against Northeastern with a final score of 238.12, less than a point away from her season-best performance. The freshman also earned Diver of the Week honors on Nov. 7 after winning the 1-meter against Maine with her top score (238.72). 

SCOUTING THE RAMS
Rhode Island is 3-4 in dual meets this season and won the Harold Anderson Invitational in November against Assumption, Bryant, Holy Cross, Maine, and Providence. The Rams competed on Tuesday at home against Atlantic 10 rival UMass and fell 155-119 despite winning six events. URI finished ninth overall at last year's A-10 Championships with 192.5 points and broke a pair of school records.
 
Mick Westkott has spent four decades as the head coach of the Rhode Island swimming & diving program, leading the Rams to their best A-10 finish in program history with fifth place in 2015. UVM edged URI last season at Forbush on Senior Day 155-145, and Rhode Island's last win in the series came back in 2014 in Kingston. Vermont earned a 164-136 victory on the road two years ago against the Rams.

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont has several weeks to prepare for the 2018 America East Championships, which will be contested Feb. 15-18 at WPI in Worcester, Massachusetts. Live video of all four days of the competition will be available for free at AmericaEast.TV. 

Speeder & Earl's Coffee is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's swimming & diving season