BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The women's swimming and diving team opened up their 2008 season with two Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association opponents, Georgia Southern and Campbell. Freshman Ashley Maness (Conway, S.C./Carolina Forest) placed fourth in the 1,000 yard freestyle with a time of 11:58.57. 

Freshmen Whitney Friend (Charlottesville, Va./Albermarle) and Alexa Sears (Newport News, Va./Menchville) showed some promise for the Highlanders. Friend recorded two sixth place finishes, one in the 1,000 yard freestyle and the other in the 500 yard freestyle. Sears placed sixth in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 103.96. 

Mandy Smith (Annandale, Va./Falls Church) and Lauren Wensel (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) led by example with a seventh place and a fifth place finish respectively. Smith crossed the finish line in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:08.46 just tenths of seconds off her personal best of 1:08.07, which she recorded against College of Charleston and VMI last year. Wensel touched the boards at 5:53.09 in the 500 yard freestyle. 

The swimming and diving team will be back in the water on October 18 at Marshall.