Roberts Shines In Loss At Nebraska

Friday, October 9

Lincoln, Neb.

5:00 PM

Iowa State

113

187

Nebraska

10.09.2015 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving team fell to Nebraska on the road Friday night, 187-113, to open the 2015-16 season. The Cyclones (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) were led by a strong showing from sophomore Kasey Roberts, but the Cornhuskers (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) ultimately went on to win their second consecutive meet in the series.

Iowa State got off to a fast start, claiming first place in the 200 medley relay to open the evening. Setting the pace for the Cyclones was Guy Shilon, Roberts, Kaylee Kucera and Maddie Rastall with a time of 1:46.72. Iowa State also took third and fourth in the event to grab an early 13-4 lead.

“Tonight we had some really good racing,” Roberts said. “I know a lot of us were excited and a little nervous but I think we came out pretty well.”

In the 100 backstroke, senior Marissa Engel and Shilon, a freshmen, were neck-and-neck to take second and third place, with Engel out-touching the newcomer by .15 seconds in a time of 57.78 seconds. Roberts followed up Engel's performance by winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.97.

Entering the first diving break, Nebraska held a 76-55 advantage. That margin would grow, as the Cornhuskers took first and second place on the one-meter boards. Julie Dickinson led the Cyclones in the diving well with a score of 260.77. Dickinson also was the top Cyclone competitor on the three-meter board, earning a mark of 249.38.

“I thought her best overall performance was on one-meter. That was a really good way to start off the year on one-meter,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “I thought she put a good set of six dives together there.”

Iowa State went on to take first place in two of the next three events, with Engel touching the wall in 2:02.24 in the 200 backstroke and Roberts clocking a 2:19.90 in the 200 breaststroke.

It was once again Roberts and Engel who stole the show in the 200 IM, finishing in first and second place, respectively. Roberts out-touched Engel 2:07.09-2:07.14 to win her fourth event of the night.

“She had an outstanding meet,” head coach Duane Sorenson said of Roberts' night. “She had been training really well we kind of knew she was primed for a great meet. Last year against Nebraska she had a sore back and couldn't compete at 100 percent, so tonight she had a little pay back.”

Despite the performances of Roberts and the Cyclones, Nebraska would take 10 of the meet's 16 events, including the five freestyle events, and secure the win.

“With it being our first real live meet with pressure and another team, some of the swimmers stepped up and some were a little tight and didn't swim relaxed,” Sorenson said. “Nebraska swam outstanding…they did the little things right. The races were much closer than what the meet score showed.”

Iowa State has three weeks off before it is back in action on Oct. 30 to host Omaha. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Beyer Pool.