Saturday, November 02, 2002

The Valparaiso women earned a second place finish at the Eastern Illinois Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

The Crusaders 424.5 points trailed only the hosts 685 points. Lewis (397.5) finished third, followed by Butler (282), IUPUI (255), and Lincoln (196).

Katie Urbas (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette H.S.) earned three top-four finishes on the weekend. She won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:14.81. The junior also finished third in the 100 fly (1:02.33) and the 500 free (5:21.84).

Freshman Ashely Seale (Maryville, Tenn./Maryville H.S.) won the 100 fly (1:01.29), while earning fourth place in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:36.15).

Britt Nelson (Cortland, N.Y./Homer H.S.) tallied a pair of top finishes for the Crusaders in the freestyle. Her 200 time of 2:00.73 and 500 time of 5:20.54 each earned her third place.

Lauren Bambach (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman H.S.) placed fourth in the 200 backstroke (2:19.01).

The 400 medley relay team of Bambach, Seale, Urbas, and Nelson also earned a second place finish for the Crusaders.

The Crusaders will return to the pool for their home opener on Nov. 15 when Valpo hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay at 6 p.m.