ST. GEORGE, Utah – Climbing up two spots in the standings, the Pepperdine swim and dive program is in first place with one day left at the MPSF Championships.
 
Today, Pepperdine was highlighted by Sophia Ware, Ansley Halbach and Vivian Vallely who all took home titles to help propel the Waves into first place. Ware tied the school record and won the 100 fly, Halbach took home the 400 IM and Vallely won her second diving title of the week, this time in the 1-meter.
 
PRELIMS
In the 100 fly, Sophia Ware (Allen, Texas) clocked a time of 55.36 to claim the second fastest time in program history and a second place finish in the prelims. Layla Busquets (Diablo, Calif.), Emme Spevak (Austin, Texas) and Lexie Deitemeyer (Golden, Colo.) respectively finished in 6th, 7th and 8th and all earned spots in the finals.
 
Ansley Halbach (Watkinsville, Ga.), AJ Adams (Castle Rock, Colo.), Jessica Calderoni (Los Altos, Calif.), Madeline Wheeler (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Mollie Cho (Frisco, Texas) respectively finished in 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th in the 400 IM to qualify for the finals.
 
In the 200 free, Lindsay Hemming (Orinda, Calif.) posted the 10th fastest time ever by a Wave as she finished her swim in 1:53.48 and finished in 5th. Additionally, Alexandra Browne (Arlington, Va.), Ware and Elliot Easton (Tampa, Fla.) finished in 7th, 9th and 10th respectively, and all qualified for the finals.
 
Anna Ryan (Alamo, Calif.), Charli Sunahara (Chino, Calif.), Nora Rabe (Wayzata, Minn.) and Kiana Fan (Irvine, Calif.) respectively finished the 100 breast in 2nd, 4th, 8th and 9th to earn a spot in the finals.
 
Busquets notched a 57.18 in the 100 back prelims to finish 4th and earn a spot in the finals. Her time gave her the 6th spot on the Waves all-time top-10 list.
 
FINALS
In the 100 fly, Ware posted a 54.70 to claim the title and tie the school record, while Spevak, Busquets and Deitemeyer respectively placed in 4th, 5th and 7th with times of 56.51, 56.66 and 56.99. Spevak's time of 56.51 puts her fifth on the Waves all-time top-10 list.
 
Halbach won the 400 IM title as she clocked a 4:28.42, which was also the fourth fastest time in program history. Adams, Calderoni, Wheeler and Cho finished in 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th with respective times of 4:33.06, 4:38.19, 4:39.31 and 4:39.49.
 
In the 200 free, Hemming and Browne came in 4th in 5th as they finished their swims in 1:52.88 and 1:53.13, respectively. These times also earned Hemming and Browne the 5th and 6th spots on the Waves all-time top-10 list. Additionally, Easton and Ware placed in 10th and 13th with respective times of 1:53.99 and 1:56.80.
 
Ryan posted a 1:03.75 in the 100 breast to take home 4th place, which also gave her the third fastest time in program history. The Waves earned the 5th, 8th and 9th place spots in the event as Sunahara, Rabe and Fan completed their swims with respective times of 1:03.86, 1:05.34 and 1:05.78.
 
In the 100 back, Busquets placed in 7th with a time of 57.83.
 
3-METER DIVING
Vivian Vallely (Newport Beach, Calif.) won the 1-meter championship as she posted a 256.05 - which was also the best score by a Wave this season. Amanda Wong (Santa Ana, Calif.), Lexie Martin (Keller, Texas) and Delainey Pisaruk (Phoenix, Ariz.) took third, fourth and fifth with respective scores of 250.35, 238.60 and 236.50.
 
STANDINGS
1. Pepperdine 620
2. San Diego 592.50
3. Pacific 487.50
4. Incarnate Word 331
 
QUOTABLES
"The Waves had a phenomenal night," head coach Ellie Monobe said. "It all started this morning getting our momentum going with the 100 fly. Having all our swimmers make a final in both of those events to kick off the final session was historic. It was immensely impressive and shows the commitment and grittiness of each of our swimmers. On top of that, to have freshman Sophia Ware take home an individual title and tie our school record has been a storybook night. Huge shoutout to sophomore Ansley Halbach who had an incredible swim in the 400 IM. She's one of the most competitive swimmers we've ever had in our program and she's incredibly reliable. From there, the momentum continued with our breaststroke final and the 200 free. Our women swam with a lot of heart tonight, and I'm incredibly proud of how we performed, although there's more work to do tomorrow. Today was one of the best days I've ever been a part of in this sport, as a coach and as an athlete."
 
"Today's 1-meter results were pretty much our best-case scenario, and I couldn't be more proud," diving coach Monique Demaisip said. "Our divers looked confident and steady in the execution of their lists. We have our exhibition team event tomorrow and are excited to cheer our swimmers on the rest of the way through our conference championships."
 
NEXT UP
The Waves will finish the MPSF Championships tomorrow with swimming prelims at 9 a.m. PT before finals at 5 p.m. PT.
 
FOLLOW
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