Volovetski and McLain Qualify for NCAA Diving Zones
11/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 15, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio—Senior Alex Volovetski and sophomore Zane McLain of the Pitt men’s swimming and diving team earned Pitt Performer of the Meet honors after each qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones. The Panthers fell 164-135, this afternoon, to conference foe Cincinnati, slipping to 1-2 on the year.
Pitt swept both diving events in the meet. In the 1M diving event, all four Panthers scored higher than the Bearcats. Volovetski (Brandon, Fla./Armwood) led all divers with 422.92 points, while McLain (Red Lion, Pa./Dallastown Area), senior Eric Becker (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and sophomore Charles Hauser (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) rounded out the top four, respectively.
Later, Volovetski would also be victorious on the 3M board with 392.55 points. McLain and Becker followed for second and third in the same event.
Winning the only other individual event, sophomore Bobby Smith (Long Island, N.Y./St. John’s the Baptist/Pacific) won the 200 IM at 1:57.40. Junior Charlie Zettel (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) and freshman Aidan Considine (Columbia, Md./DeMatha Catholic) followed to complete the sweep in that event, placing second and third. Later, Smith was second in the 200 back and third in the 100 back.
The 400 free relay team of sophomore Andre Dubiel (Dzierzoniow, Poland/School of Sport Championship), freshman Jake Lucas (Richmond, Va./Liberty), junior Alex Kubicek (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and freshman Alex Navarro (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) earned the top finish in the final event of the day, with a time of 3:09.02.
Prior to that relay, Dubiel took second in the 100 back and third in the 100 free. Additionally, Lucas placed second in the 50 free and Kubicek trailed slightly for third in the same event. Lucas would later chip in a third-place finish in the 100 fly.
Earning multiple top-three finishes on the day, senior Jonathan Buchanan (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) outlasted a Cincinnati swimmer for a second-place finish at 1:00.10 in the 100 breast. He would also place third in the 200 breast.
Pitt returns to action in the three-day Hoosierland Invitational that begins on Friday, Nov. 21., in Bloomington, Ind.