WORCESTER, Mass. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team competed Saturday in the Barbara Grant Donahue Cup, facing several top NCAA Division III programs and finishing fourth in the varsity eight and fifth in the second varsity eight.
PLU raced against five Division III opponents: Williams, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Connecticut College, Clark, and Simmons. Williams is currently ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll.
"First races of the day were fast and fun," head coach Matt Oclander said. "The really challenging conditions were handled extremely well by our coxswains, Sarah and Louisa. Swirling winds, stake boats and traffic noise from the highway made for a very busy start-line environment, but both boats were well prepared and focused."
The varsity eight, coxed by Louisa Compton and crewed by Riah Heil, Makayla Hall, Hannah Miyasaki, Natalie Gregory, Kat Judd, Tate Trahan, Adia Carei and Kennadi Jones, finished fourth in 7 minutes, 4.5 seconds.
The second varsity eight placed fifth in 7:49.67. The boat was coxed by Sarah Hoskins and crewed by Sareena Dhaliwal, Joscelyn Barenaba, Kate Dery, Ashley Teague, Suzie Roberts, Mackenzie Poppe, Tlalli Ruiz and Adella Judge.
PLU also competed in a dual meet against Mount Holyoke, where its A and B boats finished first and fourth with times of 7:14.12 and 8:33.64, respectively.
Pacific Lutheran returns to action Sunday at 9 a.m. at the WPI Invite.
