May 26, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Behind a dominant effort in A division from senior Alissa Ayres (Trenton, N.J./Ewing) and junior skipper Katrina Williams (Pembroke, Bermuda/Bermuda), the Lady Monarchs are just six points back of the lead at the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Women's National Championship. Williams and Ayres posted just 13 points in A division, leading the second place boat by 16 points.
The junior skipper from Bermuda led the A division boat to six finishes all inside the top four boats, including four seconds and a win. Williams sailed with Ayres and junior Ashley Brusso for a very consistent and dominant first day.
"I'm really pleased with how our girls are competing," said head coach Mitch Brindley. "They're sailing well; these are conditions that Katrina has been looking forward to for a long time and she is sailing very well - on top of things and proving that she is a great competitor. As are her crew Alissa Ayres and Ashley Brusso. Brusso has had to battle through a shoulder injury and is really giving us everything she's got."
In B division, sophomore skipper Stephanie Roble struggled early but bounced back with three straight third place finishes to jump to eighth in the division. She led ODU to the lead before the 7th and 8th races, and after finishing out the day, found ODU just six points off the pace set by Yale. She sailed with rookie Arianna Baker in their first appearance at the national event.
"Steph and Arianna have had some good races. They struggled to get off the line a bit today, but when they do, they are very fast and very smart out there," Brindley said.
In eight completed races of B division racing, Baker and Roble finished with 66 total points. Williams skippered the A division boat to a 13-point performance, cruising by the rest of A division after the first six races. Combined, the two boats have totaled 79 points, just six back of Yale for first place. The Lady Monarchs lead Boston College in third by nine points, Dartmouth in fourth by 13 and the College of Charleston in fifth by 14 points.
"It's close, which is nice and exciting. We're looking forward to another great day tomorrow to get back on top. It's been absolutely perfect; the conditions have been great," said Brindley.
The fleet will return to the water tomorrow morning for the remainder of the championship. The winner will be crowned after sailing on Wednesday as ODU looks to earn its fourth national championship in women's dinghy action.
Results: Day One - ICSA Women's National Championship:
Team A B TOT1. Yale 34 39 732. ODU 13 66 793. Boston College 58 30 884. Dartmouth 46 46 925. Coll of Charleston 29 64 936. St. Mary's College 44 51 957. Georgetown 60 48 1088. Connecticut Coll 46 76 1229. Brown Univ 66 58 12410. Boston Univ 57 80 13711. Harvard 64 77 14112. Stanford 71 85 15613. Eckerd Coll 76 82 15814. William Smith 63 100 16315. U. Rhode Island 91 77 16816. Western Washington 53 124 17717. Wisconsin 72 135 20718. Texas A&M Galveston 82 130 212