CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 14, 2019) – After posting 146 points on Thursday, the FIU swim team closed out the opening day of the CSCAA National Invitational Championship in fifth place.

"Tonight, we came out with a lot of energy and fight," Head Coach Randy Horner said. "Having Sara and the relay team get on the podium gives us great momentum heading into day two."

For full day one results click here.The NIC meet continues on Friday, with preliminary action slated for 9:30 a.m., and finals beginning at 6:00 p.m.

After being seeded third in the preliminary round for the 50 breaststroke, sophomore Sara Gyertyanffy posted a second-place finish following a time of 28.15. Junior Taylor Grabenhorst competed in the consolation final after seeding 14th and capping the event with a finals time of 29.14 to notch a 12th-place finish.

Moving into the 200 freestyle, the relay team of junior Alex Bryant, freshman Helga Fodor, Gyertyanffy and freshman Paloma Sanchez earned eighth overall after clocking a time of 1:33.22. Senior Oceane Peretti posted 10th overall in the 500 freestyle when she tapped in at 4:53.00.

Freshman Holly Shepherd was the next Panther to snag a few points in the 200 IM, as she moved up from a ninth seed in the preliminary round to place seventh after clocking in at 2:02.58.

Sophomore Stephanie Hussey and junior Carita Luukkanen competed in the consolation final of the 200 IM. Hussey capped the day 12th overall with a time of 2:03.04, while Luukkanen was not far behind at 2:03.18 to finish in 14th place.

Junior Megan Bowen, Hussey, Shepherd and Luukkanen represented FIU in the 400 medley relay, as the team posted a second-place finish with a time of 3:39.64 to close out day one of the CSCAA NIC on a high note.

"The 400 medley relay really capped off a great finals session for the team," Horner said.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
**All times EST**
 
Friday, March 15
Prelims (9:30 a.m.)
400 IM
400 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
800 Freestyle Relay (early heats)
 
Finals (6:00 p.m.)
200 Medley Relay
--10-minute break--
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
--20-minute break--
800 Freestyle Relay
 
Saturday, March 16
Prelims (9:30 a.m.)
100 IM
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
1000/1650 fastest (early heats)
 
Finals (6:00 p.m.)
1000/1650 Freestyle (fastest heats)
100 IM
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
--20-minute break--
400 Freestyle Relay
 
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Click here for all information regarding the NIC. Live results will run exclusively through the Meet Mobile app. 
CSCAA
Meet Information
Psych Sheet
Records

SOCIAL MEDIA 
Get all the latest information on the team by following on Twitter (@FIUSwimDive), Facebook @FIUSwimmingandDiving) and on Instagram (@FIU_Swim_Dive). General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram