Results

INDIANAPOLIS – Alexus Laird and Margaret Barber each registered a pair of wins as the IUPUI women's swimming and diving team opened the New Year with a split against Xavier and Ball State Friday evening at the IUPUI Natatorium.

The Jags defeated the Musketeers by a score of 200-98, but suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Cardinals by a 176-120 margin.

"I thought the women did a great job being aggressive and attacking their races today," assistant coach Stephanie Palmeri said. "I think we walked away from this meet knowing what we need to continue to build on to achieve our goals at the end of season. I am looking forward to what they will bring for tomorrow's competition."

After a second place finish in the 200 medley relay to start the meet, Barber gave IUPUI its first individual victory of the day winning the 1,000 free in 10:37.89.

Natalie Trout stepped up to the blocks next and delivered the Jaguars second straight individual victory winning the 200 free in 1:54.70, which almost cracked the program's Top 10 chart.

Laird made it a perfect 3-for-3 for IUPUI with a winning time of 57.75 in the 100 back, before Jennifer Oleksiak claimed a second-place showing in the 100 breast with a four-lengths time of 1:06.07. Two events later in the 50 free, Madison Taylor timed in at 24.82 to place third overall.

Out of a break, Taylor again registered another podium finish in a sprint free event with a third-place time of 53.58 in the 100 free, before Laird claimed another win in the 200 back at 2:07.31.

Looking for her first win of the night, Oleksiak came out in the 200 breast and led for almost a third of the race before Ball State's Bridgette Ruehl made a late push for the victory. Despite falling short of the win, Oleksiak still finished second with a solid IUPUI Top-10 time of 2:24.57.

Similar to Laird, Barber completed a sweep of the distance free events when she won the 500 free in 5:10.71, and two events later, Oleksiak closed out the individual swimming events with a winning time of 2:10.02 in the 200 IM.

In diving action, Bailey Wills earned the top finish for the Jags in both the 1- and the 3-meter dives with a second-place score of 225.82 in the 1-meter and a third-place mark of 222.15 in the 3-meter.

To close out the meet, Laird, Maranda Buha, Taylor and Brittani Grove sent IUPUI off with a win in the 200 free relay.

For Buha, Friday's meet was her first competition of the season and she also swam in the 50 free.

The Jags return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11, when they host Western Illinois and Saint Louis at 2 p.m. at the IUPUI Natatorium.