Huskers Rock Jayhawks in Home Win

Lincoln – Nebraska took the top spots in 14 of 16 events, as the Husker swimming and diving team rocked the Kansas Jayhawks in a 192-106 dual victory at the Devaney Center Natatorium on Friday.

The Huskers, who improved to 4-1 overall on the season, notched their first win over the Jayhawks since Nov. 5, 2016. Nebraska’s 86 point victory margin was the second-largest by the Big Red in school history, trailing only the 97-point win (198-101) by the Huskers exactly five years ago.

“Historically, (Kansas) is a great rival from the Big 12,” Nebraska Head Coach Pablo Morales said. “We have kept that tradition going. We kept dueling them every year, and they have been great competitors for us, and today was no exception. We were strong across the board and our (swimmers) were ready,” Morales said. “We want to protect our home pool.”

All-American Autumn Haebig (Grafton, Wis.) and true freshman Milica Opacic (Novi Sad, Serbia) fueled Nebraska’s victory, as both swimmers captured four titles on the day. Haebig and Opacic teamed with sophomore Ella Stein (Hudson, Wis.) and junior Emily Haimes (Enfield, London, England) to set the tone for the dual with a Nebraska victory in the 200 medley relay in the opening race.

Haebig added a pair of individual titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles, while Opacic added two individual victories of her own in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Haebig, Opacic, Haimes and sophomore Lexi Kucera (Hutchinson, Minn.) then capped Nebraska’s impressive performance with a closing victory in the 400 freestyle relay.

Through the dual, Nebraska displayed its dominance. In the second event, the Big Red powered to a top-three sweep in the 1,000 freestyle with freshman Ilaria Murzilli (Rome, Italy) coming out on top, senior Audrey Coffey (Naperville, Ill.) finishing second and junior Molly Rosenthal (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) taking third.

Nebraska added another sweep In the 200 butterfly, as senior Shannon Stott (St. Albans, Great Britain) raced to the title, while sophomore Sarah Barton (Huntersville, N.C.) captured runner-up honors and junior Berkeley Livingston (Lincoln, Neb.) completed the top-three sweep. Livingston also notched a runner-up swim in the 200 IM on the day.

Nebraska divers kept the sweeps going by taking the top three spots in both the one- and three-meter diving events. Senior Sara Troyer took the title in both events, including a 344.40 on three-meter and a 294.23 on one meter. Senior Hallie Roman added a runner-up dive in the one-meter (262.13) and third-place dive on three-meter. Sophomore Reagan Hinze added to the diving dominance, finishing as runner-up in the three-meter (269.63) and third in the one-meter.

Senior Madesyn Ronquillio (Tracy, Calif.) continued her winning ways on the season by sweeping the titles in the 100 and 200 backstrokes.

After contributing to the winning 200 medley relay, Stein added an individual title of her own in the 100 breaststroke. She followed with a third-place finish in the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Maia Hall (Whitby, England) added a runner-up showing in the 200 breast and third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

Sophomore Lexi Kucera added to her success in the sprints on the season, with a 50 freestyle victory. Haimes added a pair of third-place finishes of her own in the sprints (50 free, 100 free). 

Dannie Dilsaver was the lone Kansas swimmer to claim victory, as the Lincoln native won the 200 breaststroke and 200 IM, while adding a runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke.

Nebraska will return to competition at the Mizzou Invitational, Nov. 17-19 in Columbia, Mo.

Nebraska 192, Kansas 106

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

Lincoln, Nebraska (Devaney Natatorium)

Nebraska Champions

200 Medley Relay – Nebraska – 1:43.55 (Haebig, Stein, Opacic, Haimes)

1,000 Freestyle – Ilaria Murzilli (10:10.43)

200 Freestyle – Autumn Haebig (1:49.77)

100 Backstroke – Madesyn Ronquillio (55.88)

100 Breaststroke – Ella Stein (1:04.18)

200 Butterfly – Shannon Stott (2:02.04)

50 Freestyle – Lexi Kucera (23.77)

1-Meter Diving – Sara Troyer (294.23) 

100 Freestyle – Milica Opacic (51.00)

200 Backstroke – Madesyn Ronquillio (1:58.56)

500 Freestyle – Autumn Haebig (4:57.79)

100 Butterfly – Milica Opacic (54.95)

3-Meter Diving – Sara Troyer (344.40)

400 Freestyle Relay – Nebraska – 3:25.01 (Opacic, Kucera, Haimes, Haebig)