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10 CAVALIER CORNER BY KRISTIN THURMAN V irginia women's swimming and diving emphatically added to its trophy case by winning its second consecutive NCAA championship on March 19 in Atlanta. The Cavaliers cruised to their second national title, winning 11 of 18 events while setting numerous records. "Last year was awesome for us, but I felt like we walked into the meet knowing there was a chance we were going to win," third-year Kate Douglass said. "This year there was a target on our back, and it was definitely going to be more competitive and a lot harder to win. "From the first prelim session, we started it off really great, then just kept it going and exceeded all expectations at this meet. This really was just a great way to top it off, and it has been so much fun." "I definitely felt pressure, but I think that saying [pressure is a privilege] is very reas- suring," second-year Alex Walsh said. "I kept saying that to myself before the 200 fly, 'I know this is going to hurt but being able to swim in the A final at NCAAs is a privilege and being on this team is a privilege.' "There is pressure on us, and we know it, but being able to be a part of UVA is some- thing that we take with us into our swims to swim faster." Douglass and Alex Walsh both swept their three individual events. First-year Gretchen Walsh added an individual title in the 100- yard freestyle and finished runner-up in the 50 free and 100 back. Fourth-year Alexis Wenger added a second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke in her final trip to the NCAA Championships, and first-year Emma Weyant was second in the 500-yard freestyle. "I never thought I would come into an NCAA Championship and win all three in- dividual events," Douglass said. "This just exceeded all expectations I had for myself, and it is a pretty cool feeling." UVA also won four of the five relay events in route to the title. The Cavaliers opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay and took second in the 800-yard freestyle relay to take the lead early in the meet. The second day brought the first round of individual events. Douglass put down her American record in the 50 free prelims to set up what would be a huge night for the Cavaliers. Weyant swam a career-best clock- ing and the third-fastest time in UVA history to finish second in the 500 free, her first in- dividual event at the NCAA Championships. One event later, UVA added to its tally of re- cords when Alex Walsh crushed the 200 IM record to win her second consecutive NCAA title in the event. Then came the 50 free, where UVA's Douglass and Gretchen Walsh blistered the field. Both finished under 21 seconds. Douglass eclipsed her American record from the prelims with the fastest time in history of 20.84 and Walsh was just be- hind her in a personal-best time of 20.95. The Cavaliers topped the night off with a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Alex Walsh picked up her second individ- ual title with a win in the 400 IM. She led a trio of Cavaliers in the final. Walsh set a UVA KEEPING THE CROWN Virginia's Women's Swimming And Diving Squad Earned Its Second Consecutive National Title