For the fourth year in a row, the UCLA women’s swim and
dive team took Cal to the brink, but still could not quite overcome
its nemesis from up north.
UCLA came within half a second of sweeping the Bay Area schools
at home over the weekend, but a day after dismantling Stanford, it
dropped a thriller to Cal.
On Friday, the No. 7 Bruins jumped out to an early 20-18 lead in
the diving events against the No. 3 Cardinal and never looked back.
UCLA won the first three pool races, which included a one-two-three
finish in the 200 freestyle.
“When you get that many wins in the very beginning, it
pumps you up,” junior Katie Nelson said. “We knew we
were going to win after that.”
The Bruins’ (7-2, 3-2 Pac-10) unrelenting assault in the
pool continued throughout the afternoon as they cruised to an easy
180-120 win. Three UCLA swimmers won multiple events: Nelson,
senior Kim Vandenberg and sophomore Nicolette Teo each won two
races en route to the victory over Stanford (12-1, 3-2 Pac-10).
In addition to their individual victories, the Bruins also set
records. Nelson broke the dual-meet record in the 1000 freestyle
and Vandenberg set a record in the 200 freestyle as well as with
the 400 medley relay team.
“We had a lot of great individual performances and we had
a lot of kids step up,” coach Cyndi Gallagher said.
On Saturday against No. 6 Cal, Gallagher’s squad looked
poised to continue their torried stretch, and as was the case the
day before, the Bruins jumped out to a big lead. They dominated the
diving events, with senior Paige Thompson winning the 1-meter and
3-meter contests.
“Our divers today were instrumental in keeping us in it
until the last relay,” Gallagher said.
But even with the big lead, UCLA could not hold off Cal’s
outstanding sprinters. The score moved back and forth throughout
the meet. Three victories by Vandenberg and a meet record in the
500 freestyle by Nelson helped the Bruins keep pace with the
Bears.
The teams stood tied at 141.5 as the meet came down to the 200
freestyle relay, a position the Bruins have become familiar with
against Cal.
“They always get us in the last relay,” Nelson said.
“For the past three years that I have been here, it has
always come down to the relay and it’s always really
nerve-racking.”
Cal prevailed in the highly competitive relay by .47 seconds
over UCLA to clinch the meet 154.5-145.5. The win kept the Golden
Bears perfect in Pac-10 competition (10-0, 6-0 Pac-10).
“I think it shows a lot about the character of this team
and how we never give up,” Gallagher said of her team’s
down-to-the-wire performance. “I’m happy with how we
competed.”