WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Sweet Briar swimming opened its spring schedule Saturday with a sweep in North Carolina, defeating non-conference opponents Agnes Scott (69-26), Greensboro (74-21) and host Salem College (82-12).

The Vixens captured seven wins in the sweep, led by sophomore Hannah Hesser (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) with three. Hesser’s victories came in the 1000 Y. freestyle (11:26.99), the 100 Y. butterfly (1:02.98) and the 500 Y. freestyle (5:35.95).


Melissa Simpson '11

First-year Melissa Simpson (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) walked away with one first-place finish and a new school record. She touched the wall first in the 200 Y. freestyle with a time of 2:04.91, then followed with a new school record of 2:17.10 in the 200 Y. backstroke. Simpson finished second in the event.

Junior Stephanie Perks (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) rounded out Sweet Briar’s individual wins. She captured first-place points in the 100 Y. freestyle with a season-best time of 59:23.

The Vixens also touched first in both relays. The team of Sam Benito ’11 (Germany/Ramstein American), Hayley Hill ’10 (Bermuda), Laura Wolf ’11 (Yorklyn, Del./Wilmington Friends) and Kelsey Smith ’11 (Gainesville, Va./Brentsville) won the 200 Y. medley relay, while Jennifer Milby ’08 (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis), Tori Marshall ’10 (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), Perks and Simpson teamed to win the 200 Y. freestyle relay (1:49.75).

In addition to Simpson’s record-breaking second-place finish in the 200 Y. backstroke, Marshall captured second in the 200 Y. freestyle (2:1043) and the 100 Y. butterfly (1:08.31). Hill came home second in the 100 Y. breaststroke (1:17.46) and Wolf placed second in the 400 Y. individual medley (5:37.68) to lead Sweet Briar to the win.

The Vixens, now 10-1 overall, are on the road again next Saturday. The team travels to Ashland to take on Randolph-Macon College and Salem College.

Overall: 10-1
ODAC: 3-1

Meet Results