FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the No. 6 Auburn women's swimming and diving team, the goal coming into Saturday's dual meet at Arkansas was to start fast. The Tigers did just that by winning the first six events as they beat another SEC team in convincing fashion, 194.5-101.5.
"I think we continued to see the same thing from our women in general," Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. "Regardless of where we are or who we're competing against, I think you see outstanding energy, enthusiasm and just a competitive fire from the very first relay to the final relay, and that's really important to me."
Among the winners in those first six races was sophomore Emily Hetzer in the 1,000 freestyle and junior Sonnele Oeztuerk, who won both backstroke races for the second straight week and improved her time in the 200 backstroke, finishing in 1:56.38.
But the big winner for Auburn on Saturday was Carly Cummings. The junior, who won both breastroke events last week, earned 38 points this week with individual wins in the 100 breaststroke, the 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM, as well a team victory in the 200 medley relay. In her first IM race of the season, she finished the 200 IM in 2:02.91.
"She had a fantastic meet," Taylor said. "I don't think she quite had the meet she wanted in Dallas, and she's come back the past two weeks and played a really pivotal role in us winning both of those dual meets."
Auburn also had a pair of first-time winners this season in Saturday's meet as junior Jaden Bellina won the 200 butterfly, and freshman Averee Preble won the 500 freestyle. Preble won the 200 butterfly in last week's meet against LSU.
In all, the Tigers finished first in 11 of the 14 swimming events Saturday.
DIVING RECAP
It was yet another sweep on the boards for Auburn as senior Alison Maillard won both the 1-meter (318.15) and 3-meter (314.78) competitions Saturday. Maillard, the reigning SEC Diver of the Week, has now won five of the six diving events she's competed in to start the season.
"Alison was real steady again winning both events," head diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "I'm pleased with how she's progressing and the leadership she provides."
The meet at Arkansas also gave freshmen Gretchen Wensuc and Ashlynn Sullivan the chance to compete away from home for the first time while at Auburn. Wensuc finished second in the 1-meter competition with 255 points, improving on her score from last week.
"I think for the freshmen, it was a good experience for them to see what it's like to travel one day, compete two events in the same day," Shaffer said. "Overall, we're making progress. It wasn't a perfect meet, but I like where we're going and the experience that we're getting that's going to really pay off in the championship part of the season."
WHAT'S NEXT
After three meets in three weeks, the Auburn women will get a break until Nov. 21 when they travel with the men to Greensboro, North Carolina, to compete in the Wolfpack Invitational.
The men, ranked No. 20 nationally, return to the pool next Saturday (Nov. 2) with a road trip to Navy. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT.