WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Yale women's crew team opened its NCAA Championship weekend on a high note at Mercer Lake, with all three boats securing spots in Saturday's A/B semifinals. The varsity eight won its heat, and both the second varsity eight and varsity four had second-place finishes.
 
Heat Results

• Stroked by Violet Barletta, the No. 7 seed varsity eight had a strong race, leading the field down the course. Yale crossed the line first at 6:12.632, finishing ahead of defending champion and No. 2 seed Texas (6:15.396), Indiana (6:18.701), Pennsylvania (6:26.262) and Oregon State (6:30.119).
• The Bulldogs' second varsity eight secured a second-place finish with a time of 6:19.807. Texas claimed first in the heat at 6:17.257, while Syracuse followed in third at 6:23.170. Dartmouth (6:39.865), Boston University (6:47.395), and Rhode Island (7:00.110) rounded out the field.
• The varsity four wrapped up the day with a second-place finish, clocking in at 7:05.288. Texas secured first place with a time of 7:03.603. Following the Bulldogs were Harvard (7:12.122), Dartmouth (7:15.840), Northeastern (7:33.360), and Rhode Island (7:57.895).

Hear from Friends of YWC Head Coach Will Porter
"We are off to a good start. Tomorrow is a new day we need to reset and re-focus. This is a long regatta and you're only as good as your next race."

Looking Ahead
Championship racing continues on Saturday, May 31. The varsity eight A/B semifinal is scheduled for 7:12 a.m., followed by the second varsity eight at 7:36 a.m., and the varsity four at 7:44 a.m.
 
Yale Boatings
V8
B: Alexa von der Schulenburg
2: Christina Bourmpou
3: Maya Meschkuleit
4: Imogen Cabot
5: Harriet Drake-Lee
6: Mia Levy
7: Nicole Martinez
8: Violet Barletta
C: Sofia Garcia

2V8
B: Lily Eales
2: Olivia Schnur
3: Mackenzie Ealson
4: Maeve Heneghan
5: Stine Hojager Nielsen
6: Lindsey Williams
7: Ailish Harkin
8: Anna Keating
C: Hope Galusha

V4
B: Laura Burton
2: Eva Hofmans
3: Grace Murphy
4: Lucy Richardson
C: Grace O'Connor

ALTERNATES
Emily Turnbull
Sus Tuder
Becca Stelmach
Aikaterini Gkogkou