The UF women's swimming and diving team built upon the momentum it received from the season-opening triumph over FAU Thursday, taking it out on the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables on Friday.
Florida's 184-95 victory over UM was in large part due to 13 first-place finishes by the Gators with junior Sherridon Dressel, junior Bella Garofalo and freshman Mabel Zavaros bringing home multiple individual titles at Norman Whitten Pool.
Dressel swam her way to wins in both the 100-yard backstroke (55.54) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.66), while Garofalo swept the 50-yard freestyle (23.78) and the 100-yard freestyle (51.47).
Zavaros continued her impressive start to the season, picking up a first-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:56.88 and later clinching a top spot again, this time in the 400-yard individual medley, clocking in at 4:16.37.
Through the first two meets, the Canada native now has four individual titles in four different events. If Florida can continue to get this type of production from the freshmen moving forward, it would certainly bode well for the rest of the team as the year goes on.
Just like in Boca Raton, the relay teams dominated again on Friday, winning both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of junior Emma Ball, freshman Vanessa Pearl, junior Kelly Fertel and Zavaros combined for a time of 1:43.18 in the medley relay, while freshman Kirschtine Balbuena, Fertel, Dressel and Garofalo put together a time of 1:34.41 to come away victorious in the freestyle relay.
Coach Jeff Poppell seemed encouraged by his team's progress thus far, especially the younger swimmers.
"I thought we made significant improvements from yesterday to today," Poppell said in a release. "I can't say enough about the job our freshman are doing as well."
The diving team went up against a talented group of Miami divers on Friday. After two individual wins against FAU, junior Brooke Madden settled for a second-place finish in the one-meter diving event with a score of 298.88.
"Miami has some of the best divers in the world and it was great to see the Gators step up to the challenge," diving coach Bryan Gillooly said in a release. "Although we didn't come out on top in diving, we did get closer and gained some valuable experience to take with us throughout the season."
Florida women's swimming and diving will continue its three-meet road trip on Saturday when they face off with Florida Gulf Coast University from Fort Myers. The meet is expected to begin at 11 a.m.
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak or contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
