University of Houston
# Tennessee
Pakhalina Wins 3-Meter Event at Tennessee Diving Invitational
11/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 9, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - University of Houston senior diver Yulia Pakhalina collected her 23rd consecutive victory on the three-meter springboard and earned a second-place finish on the 1-meter board at the Tennessee Diving Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday.
Pakhalina, a three-time NCAA national champion and defending champion on the 3-meter board, recorded 332.85 points to finish first in the 3-meter event. The Penza, Russia, native finished nearly 30 points ahead of second place finisher Katie Beth Bryant of Tennessee.
However, Bryant avenged her loss with a slim victory over Pakhalina on the 1-meter board. Bryant collected 328.65 points to edge Pakhalina by only 5.35 points.
Despite the loss, Pakhalina has recorded victories in 46 of the 48 collegiate diving events in which she has entered.
Redshirt freshman Azul Almazan and senior Veronica Smith were also in action Friday. Almazan finished sixth on the 3-meter board with 273.40 points and placed seventh in the 1-meter event with a score of 257.65 points.
Smith earned a pair of 12th-place finishes, collecting 232.05 points on the 3-meter board and 257.65 points on the 1-meter board.
The entire UH swimming and diving program returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 16, as they play host to Louisiana-Monroe at 11:30 a.m. It will be the third and final home meet for the Cougars in the month of November.
