The No. 20 Virginia women cruised to a 151-125 victory over visiting Miami Friday night in the season opener at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
The score doesn't do justice to the dominating performance turned in by the Cavalier swimmers. Virginia had the fastest time in every race except the two diving events and swept six of the 16 races.
"I think we started off the way we wanted to start with a very solid performance," Virginia coach Mark Bernardino said. "We had a lot of different athletes swim well. Our young first-year women, they had an extraordinary meet. They showed that they have talent, that they have character."
Leading the freshmen was Jess Lewis, who picked up four first-place finishes. She was part of the Cavalier 400-yard medley and 400 freestyle relays that notched first-place marks. She also touched in at a time of 23.86 to win the 50 free and at a time of 51.28 to finish first in the 100 free.
"The sprinters are going to step it up this year," Lewis said. "Our distance dominated last year over the sprint group. We have to step it up."
The distance squad, meanwhile, still continued their supremacy over its opponents, sweeping the 1,000- and 500-yard freestyle events. Junior Rachel Burke, a returning NCAA All-American and Olympic trials qualifier, led the way in both races with a time of 9:55.53 and 4:56.70, respectively.
Junior Brielle White picked up right where she left off after winning the 50- and 100-yard backstroke events at the ACC championships last February. White placed first in the 100 and 200 back events on Friday night.
"Swimming in the outside lane, I'm surprised I went that fast," White said of her time in the 200. "I think I saw all my coaches on the side, so they were pounding me to get it going."
Junior Elaine Bennett was another Cavalier to post two No. 1 finishes. Bennett touched first in the 200 fly and 200 breast.
The victorious 400 free relay squad was composed of three freshmen and the 400 medley relay had two. Besides Lewis, freshman Stephanie Glover swam on both teams and also posted the top time in the 100 fly. Freshman Amber Bialas, who had two third place finishes in individual events, was the third freshman on the free style relay team.
The freshmen "are going to be huge," Bernardino said. "There are only five of them, but all five of them are very good. All five of them have great positive attitudes."
Both the men and women's teams take on Penn State Oct. 30 at State College and Clemson on the 31st at home.
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