TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo swimming and diving team had a hard fought meet against the University at Buffalo, but ultimately fell to the Bulls 192-108 Saturday at the UToledo Student Recreation Center. Senior Duda Sales had standout performances for the Rockets, setting a pool record in the 100 butterfly and moving up in the Toledo Top-10 All-Time performance list in the 200 butterfly.

"It was great to be able to honor our seniors today," said interim head coach Brie Globig. "We talked a lot about getting one done for them in their final home meet. Unfortunately, it wasn't the result that we wanted, but there were a lot of positives to come from this meet. To come up against Buffalo - a team that is very strong in the MAC - I think we performed well. Duda had an amazing swim in the 100 fly to win it and get the record, it's really great to get that done on Senior Day. We had some strong swims from others and are really starting to see some people step up. We're looking forward to see how we progress as we get closer to the MAC Championships."
 
Sales started the meet off on a high note, helping her 200 medley relay team to a second-place finish off the blocks. The relay team of Ashley Jeffreys, Bec Welke, Sales, and Lovell clocked a season-best 1:44.22 in the event, finishing less than a second off Buffalo's A-team. Sales' success continued later on in the meet, as she touched the wall in 2:02.90 in the 200 butterfly for first place. Sales' time is the seventh-fastest time in program history and is less than a second off the fourth-fastest time in program history. With the taste of success of her tongue, Sales' suited up in her tech suit for her final individual event of the meet, and her strongest event in her career – the 100 butterfly. It was no contest for the Santo Andres, Brazil native, as she touched the wall in a pool record 54.33 for first place, nearly three seconds ahead of Ellie Duley from Buffalo.

The Rockets recorded nine individual season-best and three career-best times through the remaining 16 events. Junior Izzy Jones placed first in the 200 freestyle with a season-best 1:52.25. Jones also clocked a season-best 5:05.64 in the 500 freestyle for second place. Sophomore Sydnee Dressel and senior Bec Welke clocked season-best times in their respective events. Dressel touched the wall in 2:04.94 in the 200 backstroke for second place, while Welke clocked a 2:23.89 in the 200 breaststroke for third. Welke also recorded a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

Sophomores Joelle Gallais, Samantha Ekleberry, and Ashley Jeffreys and junior Lisa Eriksson three top-three finishes for the Rockets against the Bulls. Gallais placed third on the one-meter diving board. Ekleberry placed third in the 500 freestyle, touching the wall in 5:09.98, while Jeffreys placed third in the 100 backstroke at 58.21. Eriksson placed third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.41, nearly half of a second off first place.

Freshman Lauren Kilgore continued her success in the pool, notching two individual top-three finishes. Kilgore clocked a career-best 52.61 in the 100 freestyle for third place. She also placed second in the 200 IM at 2:06.77.

The Rockets ended the meet with a first-place finish in the 400 freestyle. Eriksson, Jones, Ashley Lefever, and Kennedy Lovell worked to a 3:03.89 in the event, nearly two and half seconds faster than Buffalo's A-team.

The Rockets will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 7 as they travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a two-day meet against the Falcons.