University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Drops Close Race to Minnesota
March 21, 2009 | Rowing
March 21, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee women's rowing team opened its 2009 spring schedule on Saturday, dropping two close races to Minnesota on Lake Loudoun. The Lady Vols sported revamped lineups from last season and incorporated six novice rowers into the shells.
"I want to give Minnesota a lot of credit, they were just solid today," UT Head Coach Lisa Glenn said. "They executed some great racing and I think we were a solid competitor for them in the varsity eight and the second eight and we're looking to bring the four up to that level. This was really good racing on the part of both teams, particularly in the varsity eight and the 2V8+ races. Minnesota was obviously strong and dominated the overall event."
The day kicked off with a varsity eight race that pitted the No. 16 Lady Vols against the 19th-ranked Golden Gophers. After Minnesota got off to a three-seat lead at the halfway point, Tennessee made a move, closing the gap to just one seat with 500 meters left. The Orange and White could not reel-in Minnesota, however, as the Golden Gophers completed the course three seconds ahead of the UT shell. The Lady Vol shell, racing without the services of injured senior Erin-Monique Shelton, was comprised of junior coxswain Sydney Newman, juniors Mary Beth Dreusike, Kate Snider and Laura Miller, sophomore Libi Bruncvíkova', senior Kate Brownlee, junior Ruth Ann Johnson, freshman Hilary Epes and senior Caroline Howell, and completed the course in 6:38.65.
"I think the varsity eight showed their strengths on the course," Glenn said.
The Golden Gophers pulled off the win again in the 2V8+ race, just edging the Orange and White shell. Minnesota opened the race with a three-seat lead coming through the 500 meter mark, however, Tennessee's boat, comprised of senior coxswain Jessica Williams, sophomores Melissa Toms and Rachel Dooley, juniors Marissa Bell, Lindsay Nelson and Jewell Ludwigsen, freshman Kristin Coggin, sophomore RuthAnne Waldrop and freshman Paula Coughlin, made a strong push in the final 1,000 meters closing the gap to less than one seat in the final 250 meters, finishing in 6:46.51, just 1.4 seconds off of the Golden Gophers' pace.
"What I think is important is that the second eight really made some great strides during this week of preparation for this race and I am pleased with their mindset and the progress we've made so far," Glenn said.
The varsity 4+ race capped the first day of rowing action of the 2009 spring slate. Racing two shells in the event, Minnesota's "A" boat claimed the victory, completing the course in 7:26.3, followed by the Golden Gophers' "B" shell in 7:38.9. The Orange and White varsity four of junior coxswain Katie Ross, freshmen Ashley Case and Lorren Shadko, and sophomores Shayna Sandlan and Samantha Sedgwick, finished third.
"The mentality of our group is one that should facilitate some really solid improvement for us this spring, and that's our job," Glenn said. "It's going to be our job to make sure that we all stay on the task ahead of us, which is moving forward and using the resources we have. So, I'm excited about this spring. It is really important for our team to remain focused on what our objectives are and not lose sight of where we are committed to going."
Tennessee will look to build on this performance next Saturday against Alabama. The Crimson Tide and Lady Vols will meet in the regular season for the first time in program history. The dual race will get underway at 10 a.m. on Lake Loudoun.
| Varsity 8+ | ||
| 1. | Minnesota | 6:35.00 |
| 2. | Tennessee | 6:38.65 |
| Newman [cox], Dreusike, Snider, Miller, Bruncvíkova', Brownlee, R. Johnson, Epes, Howell | ||
| Second Varsity 8+ | ||
| 1. | Minnesota | 6:45.1 |
| 2. | Tennessee | 6:46.51 |
| J. Williams [cox], Toms, Dooley, Bell, Nelson, Ludwigsen, Coggin, Waldrop, Coughlin | ||
| Varsity 4+ | ||
| 1. | Minnesota A | 7:26.3 |
| 2. | Minnesota B | 7:38.9 |
| 3. | Tennessee | 8:00.5 |
| Ross [cox], Case, Shadko, Sandlan, Sedgwick | ||
