May 12, 2008

Philadelphia, Pa. - The UMass women's rowing team completed on the Schuylkill River at the Dad Vail Regatta this weekend in Philadelphia, Pa. The Minutewomen's JV Eight boat placed second overall while the Novice Eight took sixth. The team did not place overall. Buffalo took first in the even with 21 points, with Purdue in second with 18 and Grand Valley in third with 16.

The Second Varsity Eight completed their course in 6:40.489, finishing just over three seconds behind winner Purdue. The boat, consisting of rowers Liz Euiler, Julie Markus, Sam Smith, Haley Fitzgerald, Dani Vollman, Amanda Mawn, Claire Champine, Kelsey Schachter and coxswain Molly Morgan, defeated Buffalo, George Mason, St. Joseph's, and Tulsa in the Grand Final. In the first day and a half of competition, the boat finished first in their two heats and second in a third to reach the Grand Final.

The Novice Eight placed second in their first heat to reach the Grand Final, where they came in sixth to Grand Valley, St. Joseph's, Bucknell, Alabama, and Orange Coast. The boat finished the course in 7:00.08. The UMass boat included Megan Donovan, Emily Hagan, Ellis Brewster, Jen Coyne, Rachel Spielberg, Meredith Kearney, Chelsea Wakeham, Ellie Brazenall and coxswain Carley Payne.

The Varsity Eight did not reach the Grand Final, but placed second in their first heat, just two seconds behind winner Alabama with a time of 6:38.459. During their second heat, they placed fifth with a time of 6:35.07.

The Novice Four and Varsity Four both finished third in their first heat and did not advance.

This race concludes the Minutewomen's 2008 season.