ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's swimming and diving team had its home opener on Saturday afternoon inside Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium where the Bombers hosted RPI for an early season dual. The Engineers were able to score a 195-105 victory over Ithaca.

The Bombers came away with a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay that saw Samantha Bender, Sydney Koehler, Kathleen Papiernik and Spencer Carroll finish in 1:50.18, behind the Engineers who recorded a time of 1:47.92. Bender continued her strong start to her season as she bested the field in the 100-yard backstroke, by just under three seconds at 58.99. The sophomore also won the 200-yard event recording a time of 2:09.13, which beat a quartet of Engineers with Corinne Boyne finishing second at 2:12.66. First year Sydney Koehler put together a second-place finish at 1:08.54, which was behind RPI's Colleen Whittaker (1:06.73). She also finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke.
 
Kailee Payne was equally impressive in both the 3-meter and 1-meter diving competitions putting together scores above 300 in both. She bested the field with a finals score of 332.55, which not only is a season-best but also the second-best score in program history behind her 342.15 from last season. In the 1-meter she beat teammate Jenell Slesser (240.35) with a six-dive score of 302.80.
 
Ithaca returns to action in exactly one week when Cortland comes to the South Hill for dual slated to begin at 1 p.m.

200-yard medley relay:
2. Samantha Bender, Sydney Koehler, Kathleen Papiernik and Spencer Carroll- 1:50.18
 
4. Elizabeth Bodie, Emma Kidd, Mianny Trinidad, and Naomi Fry- 1:53.52 
 
1000-yard freestyle:
 
4. Ava Palfreyman- 11:23.15
 
200-yard freestyle:
 
3. Angela Merch- 2:00.40
 
100-yard backstroke:
 
1. Samantha Bender- 58:99
 
100-yard breaststroke:
 
2. Sydney Koehler- 1:08.54
 
4. Spencer Carroll- 1:11.12
  
200-yard butterfly:
 
3. Elizabeth Bodie- 2:16.54
 
4. Kathleen Papiernik- 2:16.61
 
50-yard freestyle:
 
4. Spencer Carroll- 24.91
 
3-meter diving:
 
1. Kailee Payne- 332.55
2. Jenell Slesser- 258.60
4. Eliza Salus- 241.90
 
100-yard freestyle:
 
3. Angela Merch- 55.81
 
200-yard backstroke:
 
1. Samantha Bender- 2:09.13
 
200-yard breaststroke:
 
2. Sydney Koehler- 2:30.68
 
4. Kathleen Papiernik- 2:32.38
 
500-yard freestyle:
 
5. Naomi Fry- 5:30.44
 
100-yard butterfly:
 
2. Kathleen Papiernik- 59.22
 
4. Elizabeth Bodie- 1:01.23
 
1-meter diving:
 
1. Kailee Payne- 302.80
 
3. Jenell Slesser-  240.35
 
4. Eve Weatherhead- 211.00
 
200-yard IM:
 
4. Sydney Koehler- 2:16.65
 
400-yard Freestyle Relay
 
2. Samantha Bender, Elke Beaumont, Spencer Carroll, and Angela Merch- 3:43.29
 
3. Naomi Fry, Sierra Houck, Jillian Wedding, and Emma Kidd- 3:47.20