WSWIM1/23/2016 1:53 AM | By: Cal Athletics
No. 7 Bears Return To Spieker, Drop Wildcats
BERKELEY – The No. 7 Cal women's swimming & diving team returned home for the first time in three months and made a resounding statement as it resumed the dual meet college season with a 185-114 victory over No. 9 Arizona at rainy Spieker Aquatics Complex on Friday.
Freshman Kathleen Baker won three events – the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley – while fellow freshman Amy Bilquist captured both the 100 and 200 freestyle. Bilquist set a lifetime best with her race in the 200 free with a time of 1:47.44.
“It was great to swim at home again,” Cal coach Teri McKeever said. “We haven't had many meets at home. I thought we really did a good job today.”
Friday marked Cal's first home meet since defeating San Jose State on Oct. 30.
Senior Kelly Naze also set a personal best in winning the 200 butterfly with a mark of 1:57.89. Freshman Phoebe LaMay won the 1-meter diving event with a score of 289.58 and finished second on the 3-meter board at 301.65.
The double-dual meet with the Cal men's team took place in a steady rain for most of the afternoon.
“The weather was not great, but also I think in the long term if you can perform under these circumstances, you should be able to perform anywhere,” McKeever said.”
The Bears, now 4-0 in dual meets and 3-0 in the Pac-12, return to Spieker Pool on Saturday with a dual meet against Arizona State. It will be another double-dual with the men's team, and it will also serve as Senior Day as it is the last home meet of the season. Cal will honor its seven seniors in a pre-meet ceremony.
“We're still kind of finding ourselves,” McKeever said. “That's what we kind of hope to do this weekend and next week. We want to put the final touches together so we can get as many people as possible to NCAAs and get people back healthy.”