MIAMI (Oct. 28, 2022) – Swimming and Diving hosted Liberty in the first day of a dual meet, Friday afternoon, with the Panthers holding a narrow lead against the Flames, 116-108.
 
The day started with the two sides splitting the first two events.
 
The team of Gia Pergolini, Christie Chue, Kelsie Campbell and Jessica Shpilko would take second in the 200-Medley Relay, but a first and third finish for Liberty would put them ahead early.
 
In the 500-Free, freshman Harliai Curthoys-Davies finished first with a time of 5:00.48. The Flames would take second through fourth to put them ahead 22-14 headed into the first break.
 
The Panthers fought back in the second third of the meet, winning four races to push the Flames.
 
Chue picked her first win taking the 50-Breast (28.88), with Delaine Goll and Nicole Frank also scoring points with third and fourth place finishes, respectively, giving FIU its first lead.
 
In the 50-Free Lamija Medosevic (24.10) and Shpilko (24.13) took the top spots, scoring 15 points.
 
Chue picked her second win of the day, setting a new pool record in the 200-Breast with a 2:15.01.
 
Curthoys-Davies second win of the day, a 1:51.34 in the 200- Free, would see FIU trailing 90-79.
 
FIU would close the gap, winning the final two events of the day.
 
Frank finished first in the 200-IM (2:04.27) and the Panthers won the 400-Freestyle Relay (3:39.96), to cut the deficit to 100-105.
 
The divers got the day started with a dominate performance in the team's platform debut. The Panthers swept proceedings, finishing first through fifth out eight competitors.
 
Maha Gouda took first place with a 291 final score. Serena Buchwald and freshman Ruska Lehtonen placed second and third with scores of 238.73 and 226.35, respectively. All three scores qualified for NCAA Zones.
 
The divers 16 points would give FIU a 116-108 lead at the end of day one. 
 
FIU and Liberty face off again Saturday, October 29 starting at 10 a.m. ET at the FIU Aquatic Center at the Biscayne Bay Campus
 
UP NEXT
Swim and Dive will be back in the pool November 4 and 5 when they host Illinois in a dual meet. Day one of competition will start at 5 p.m. ET and day two will start at 10 a.m. ET, all at the FIU Aquatic Center.
 
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