Jayhawks even record with double-dual sweep against N. Iowa/N. Dakota
Oct. 22, 2011
UNI/N.Dakota Results 
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Kansas swimming and diving team evened their record at 2-2, with victories over Northern Iowa and North Dakota, Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa. KU defeated host Northern Iowa 186-105 and fellow visitor North Dakota 176-117 at the Glen F. Henry Pool
The Jayhawks, who have now defeated both schools for a second consecutive year, were led by strong performances from seniors Stephanie Payne and Abigail Anderson as well as a solid day from newcomers Svetlana Golovchun, Vanessa Hanbury and Deanna Marks.
“I thought our two sprinter transfers (Golovchun and Hanbury) swam awesome,” head coach Clark Campbell said following the meet. “Transfers have it tough because wherever you come from, you have to learn the Division I way and there is a bit of a learning curve. To their credit, they are learning really fast.”
Golovchun, who came to Lawrence from Surgut State in Russia, captured her very first collegiate event as she finished with a 59.52 time in the 100 backstroke. Golovchun also finished the 100 freestyle in 53 flat and aided the 200 free relay team in their first place finish. Fellow junior transfer Vanessa Hanbury had her breakout meet of the year, finishing first in two events, 100 free (53.46) and the 50 free (24.47). The Vancouver, British Columbia native also swam anchor on the 400 yard medley relay team that took home first place honors.
“I thought our team showed a lot of toughness throughout the entire weekend,” Campbell said. “That was really the goal for this trip, to mix it up and put people out of their comfort zones to see how they reacted. They came back today and really did a very good job.”
Campbell and the Jayhawks had less than 12 hours to put their 206-87 loss at Minnesota on Friday night behind them, before having to jump right back in the pool against UNI and North Dakota on Saturday morning.
“The trip was long getting down here (Cedar Falls), and it was a short turnaround time, but the team got themselves physically and mentally prepared,” Campbell said. “We as a coaching staff were very impressed with how tough the team was this weekend.”
Another impressive aspect about Saturday’s meet was the continued strong showing from Campbell’s senior corps. Captains Stephanie Payne and Shannon Garlie both swam away with first place honors in a total of four events (Payne with three), and Abigail Anderson also notched a first place finish of her own in the 200 backstroke.
“Stephanie has been steady all the way through and Abigail Anderson continues to make progress,” Campbell said. “Abi is way ahead of where she has been in the fall before.”
The two KU divers also chipped in on Saturday’s swimming success. Sophomores Christy Cash and Alyssa Golden tallied second and third places finishes, respectively during the one-meter dive.
Now back at .500 on the young season, Kansas comes home where they will host the University of Illinois next Saturday in Lawrence.
“I’m excited for our first home meet because I think each week we are getting better,” Payne said. “The more we swim the more confident we become heading into our races.”
“Illinois is a really good team and they will be tough,” Campbell said. “What we have to do is come back and have a real solid week of training and be ready to go on Saturday.”
That meet will take place at 1 p.m. on Oct. 29 inside Robinson Natatorium. Those not able to make the meet can log onto kuathletics.com for all the interviews, results and recaps following the meet.
