The ISU swimmers came out more focused and ready to swim Saturday in their victory over Nebraska-Omaha, 101-64. Coach Duane Sorenson was much more pleased with his team’s efforts from the beginning.

“They were much more relaxed and much more focused,” Sorenson said. “They weren’t swimming scared.”

The swimmers were lead by the efforts of Elena Carvell. Carvell swam the 100-yard freestyle for the first time in her young Cyclone career. The sophomore transfer finished with a time of 53.97, earning her a first-place finish in the event. Carvell also came away with the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.84.

“Elena is really talented,” Sorenson said. “She needs to believe in herself, and she’ll keep getting better.

Carvell also teamed up with Dani Harris, Jeli Nixt and Sarah Norris to take a time of 1:49.33 and first place in the 200-yard medley relay.

Harris continued her attack in the water this week in the 200-yard breaststroke. The sophomore took first with a time of 2:23.69.

“She’s a very good breaststroke swimmer,” Sorenson said. “She’s a great racer and is leading our team right now in the 200 breast time.”

The Cyclones were happy with the way they attacked in the beginning of their races.

“We were just really pleased the way they stood up and raced,” Sorenson said.

It was also a big day for the ISU divers. After Saturday’s meet, Iowa State has qualified four divers for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in March. Jenn Botsch qualified for the 3-meter dive on Oct. 16 in Minnesota.

On Saturday, senior Abby Christensen qualified for the second time in her career with a score of 266.78 in her 1-meter dive. Junior Sarah Nelson qualified for the first time in her career with a score of 269. 24.

Junior Lauren Naeve also qualified in the 1-meter and took first in the event.

“That was pretty exciting for her,” said diving coach Jeff Warrick. “She’s been focused on finishing her dives, and that’s what’s really paying off for her right now.”

Naeve finished with a score of 271.10, “destroying her personal best,” Warrick said. Naeve has been working on repetition by continuing a dive until she’s happy with her end result.

“It feels really good to feel that my practice has finally paid off,” Naeve said.

Naeve then went to the 3-meter dive and earned another personal best with a score of 274.13.

“It let me relax after knowing I already qualified for the 1-meter,” Naeve said. “It let me just enjoy the 3-meter.”

Overall the diving team competed at the high level that coach Warrick has been pushing them to compete at.

“Their consistency is getting better, which – when you only do six dives – is very important,” Warrick said. “It was just a great day.”

The next meet for the Cyclones is at home at 6 p.m. on Friday, when they face South Dakota. The teams then turn right around to compete in a double-dual meet with South Dakota State and Western Illinois at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. Both meets are at Beyer Hall, and admission is free.