Loudonville, NY – The Rider University women's swimming and diving team traveled to the Empire State and defeated Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Siena, 160-134, on Saturday afternoon in a dual meet at the Siena Swim Center.

The Broncs (1-1) earned their first dual-match triumph of the season, while the Saints (0-1) fell in their season opener.

Rider got off to a strong start, winning the 200 medley relay, which was the first event of the dual meet. The quartet of senior Tara Maniace (Neptune, NJ/Neptune), classmate Taylor Stalnaker (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury), junior Victoria Evans (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) and freshman Brianna Hatzold (Delran, NJ/Delran High School) ended with a time of 1:53.51.

The Broncs had a photo finish in the 50 free Evans and freshman Maeve Lersch (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper Saint Clair High School) tied for first as both finished with a time of 25.74. Lersch and Evans were followed by sophomore Olivia Iswalt (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) who came in third in the event at 25.98.

Rider also had a strong showing in the 200 back. Stalnaker won the event, posting a mark of 2:14.51, while junior Olivia Cann (Woodbury Heights, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and Lersch finished second and third, respectively. Cann had a time of 2:15.11 and Lersch ended at 2:15.22.

In the 1M diving event, Rider got solid performances from the trio of junior Breanne Hatter (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown HS South), sophomore Meg Tomayko (Murfreesboro,TN/Siegel) and freshman Meagan Fornero (Conroe, TX/Legacy Prepatory Christian Academy). Hatter set a new Siena pool record with a score of 285.60 to win the event, while Tomayko came in second with 237.45 and Fornero finished third with 210.75. In the 3M event, Fornero earned her first college win with a score of 264.30. Tomayko was also second in the 3M with a score of 252.37 and Hatter finished in third with 249.90.

Notes & Quotes
"On the swimming end, the team was happy to see improvement in racing from last week," Rider Head Coach Steve Fletcher said. "Today's meet format took half the time most of our combined gender meets do. The back-to-back racing with low rest between events in that format can really take a toll on performance as the meet goes on, but I think we handled that stress well. Our women recognize the benefit of pushing each other through that challenge."

"Our divers dominated and freshman Meagan Fornero got her first shot at collegiate competition," Fletcher added. "Breanne Hatter had a great meet breaking the Siena College pool record in the one meter, while earning a higher qualifying score for the NCAA Zone Championships than she earned last week."

- The Broncs have won back-to-back dual meets against conference opponents dating back to last season.
- Rider won nine of the 16 events.
- The Broncs had the top-three finishers both diving events, the 200 back and the 50 free.
- Iswalt won the 100 free with a time of 55.88.
- Maniace won the 100 breast with a time of 1:09.28 and finished second in the 200 breast.
- Senior Bailey Vanderhoof won the 200 individual medley.
- Lersch won the 100 back and Cann came in second in the event.  

Up Next
Rider returns to the pool next Saturday, October 21, for its home opener against Leigh at the Coppola Pool at 1:00 pm.