WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University men's and women's swimming opened up its 2016-17 campaign on Tuesday night, hosting in-state opponent Seton Hall at Steadman Natatorium. The Pirates outlasted the Hawks, as Seton Hall's men won 159-93 and the women edged Monmouth 153-84.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"The biggest thing for us tonight was creating a starting point that gives us a basis to work off of. We have a lot of things to work on and improve, but overall I'm really happy with the effort." – Monmouth head coach Matt Nunnally

-Tuesday marked the first collegiate meet for 11 members of the men's team and 9 members of the women's team. Monmouth's roster nearly doubled on both sides in the offseason, returning just six from the men's roster and six from the women's.

-Junior Anne Skimmons placed second in the women's 200-yard free (2:04.10), just behind her top time last year of 2:02.44 that also came against Seton Hall. Skimmons also swam a in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in 1:02.77.   

-Freshman Noah Babik finished second in the men's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.72.

-Freshman Mary Emich placed second in the women's 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 25.80. Emich finished third two events later in the 100-yard freestyle (57.73).

"The team is much improved, and you can see that from the stats tonight. They've been training and working hard over the last couple of months, and now they can see the results of what they've done. Now they can bring that back into practice and hopefully continue to work and get better." – Monmouth head coach Matt Nunnally

NUMBERS CRUNCH

-The women's 200-yard medley relay team of Ann Tompkins, Jaclyn Greening, Anne Skimmons, and Mary Emich scored in the first event of the night, finishing in 1:55.72.

-The men and women both finished second in the final event 400-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of Mary Emich, Bradie Keelen, Anne Skimmons, and Ann Tompkins finished in 3:55.38, while the team of Frank Nicola, Eric Sorensen, Noah Babik, and Michael Courter finished in 3:30.63.

-Alexandra Safarian, Brianna Pongrac, Michael Courter, Nate Lardieri, and John Yanchurak all swam sub-six minute times in the 500-yard freestyle.

-In the men's 100-yard butterfly, Sriniram Narasimhan finished in 56.58 with Mitch Simmer right behind him, coming in at 57.82.  

-During the men's 1000-yard freestyle, freshman Nate Lardieri finished in 11:20.85.

-As the lone Monmouth participant in the women's 1000-yard freestyle, Alexandra Safarian finished in 12:25.52.

UP NEXT

Monmouth will have a short turnaround before heading to the Bronx, NY to take on Fordham and Fairfield on October 28. Friday's meet is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM.