State College, Pa., November 8, 2002 - Coming off a loss on both the men's and women's side to nationally-ranked Florida, the Penn State coaching staff was hoping for signs of improvement when it hosted ACC foe, Virginia. Coach Bill Dorenkott got we what he wanted but unfortunately it wasn't enough as the Cavaliers swam past the men's team 132-106 and the women's team by a score of 127-114. The losses drop both the Penn State men's and women's team to 0-2 in dual meets this season.

On the men's side, it was junior Todd Minnier (Avon Lake, Ohio) who came up big for the Nittany Lions after winning the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.82. Minnier later went on to win the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.13 to earn the victory for Penn State. Senior Eugene Botes (Thorton, Pa.) took home the top time in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.73. The victory was the second victory of the season for the All-Big Ten performer from a season ago. Freshman Dan Velez (Germantown, Md.) picked up where he left off against the Gators in winning the 200 breaststroke (2:06.91). The victory was the second of the season for Velez as well after he won the 50 freestyle against Florida. The Nittany Lions also claimed the 400 yard freestyle relay after the quartet of Botes, Minnier, Matt Haupt (Carlisle, Pa.), and John Lutz (Hershey, Pa.) posted a time of 3:03.10 to best the Cavaliers.

"We swam with more heart today than we did last time out (Florida) and we're going to be a good team, it's just going to take a little longer than we would like," said Penn State head coach, Bill Dorenkott.

In women's action, Lisa Silvestri (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) led the way for the Nittany Lions after winning both the 1 meter and the 3 meter diving events. Penn State had two other first place finishers in the meet in Sally Anderson (Somerset, N.J.) and Courtney Stanchock (Bloomsburg, Pa.). Anderson won the 200 freestyle (1:50.70) a week after finishing fourth against Florida. Stanchock claimed the 200 breaststroke for the second-consecutive meet with a time of 2:19.64. In the 400 freestyle relay, the Nittany Lions bested the Cavaliers when the group of Amberle Biedermann (Colorado Spring, Colo.), Dee Dlugonski (Washington, Pa.), Kristin Weinhold (Durham, N.C.), and Lauren Semchyshen (New Fairfield, Conn.) raced to a finish in 3:28.90.

"I thought everyone rebounded from the Florida meet and competed much better today. We were more relaxed and much more focused today," said diving coach Craig Brown following the meet.

-LIONS-