LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- The Gonzaga women's rowing team had a successful opening spring season by sweeping their competition at the PLU Invite.

"It was a great day of racing, and many thanks to PLU for allowing us to join this year," head coach Andrew Derrick said. "The team traveled well and carried themselves in a very mature way, especially for an early season outing in March.  We had a lot of fun and got a good sense of some strengths and areas we want to work on over the coming weeks."

In the Varsity 8+ race, the Zags finished first with a time of 6:43.5, ahead of Seattle University, who finished in 7:14.1. In the Second Varsity Eight, the Bulldogs raced against Seattle University and placed first with a time of 7:01.1. Seattle crossed the finish line with a 7:49.4 time.

In the second heat of the Second Varsity Eight, GU had a Varsity Four boat race and placed first with a time of 7:14.8. Seattle Pacific was second by finishing in 7:59.2.

In the Second Varsity Four competition, GU finished first with an 8:15.8 time, beating out Western Washington at 8:42.4.

During the second part of the day, the Varsity Eight boat finished first with a 7:06.5 time. Western Washington also claimed second again with a time of 7:26.5.

In the second heat of the Varsity Eight race, Gonzaga had a Second Varsity Eight compete and place first with a time of 7:14.1, besting Seattle University, 7:30.7.

In the Varsity Four race, the Bulldogs had two boats compete and finished first (8:10.8) and second (8:23.5) overall. 

The Fourth Varsity Eighth took first with a finishing time of 7:35.6 with Seattle Pacific finishing second with 8:34.2.

The final race of the day was the Open Four competition and the Zags took first with a time of 8:34.0, ahead of Western Washington who finished in 8:45.5.

Next Up: The Bulldogs will have a scrimmage against on Minnesota March 9 in Chula Vista, Calif. 

LINEUPS

Varsity Eight
Coxswain: Sailor Hawes
Stroke: Cassidy Parr
7: Grace Dojan
6: Megan Chalfant
5: Hannah Cooney
4: Katie Sierhuis
3: Camille Ruhlin-Hicks
2: Stephanie Westlund
Bow: Olivia Feistner

Second Varsity Eight
Coxswain: Clare Bretschneider
Stroke: Abigail Gagnon
7: Perrine Sarraute
6: Jacky Allen
5: Grace Cahalane
4: Kaley Grau
3: Ella Beck
2: Quinn Elsenbast
Bow: Grace Nickas

Varsity Four
Coxswain: Kathryn Millett
Stroke: Mollie Monson
3: Maddie Sontag
2: Colleen Weber
Bow: Kat Fisher

Second Varsity Four
Coxswain: Alesandra Chester
Stroke: Sydney Bohn
3: Kailee Jackson
2: Serena Foster
Bow: Reagan Garcia

Fourth Varsity Eight
Coxswain: Maren Marshall
Stroke: Tatum Heyl
7: Samantha Claborn
6: Lucianne Salmick
5: Grace Hare
4: Payton Brose
3: Macyn Templeton
2: Lillian Rickett
Bow: Tereza Dudzik

Open/Novice Four
Coxswain: Riley Hoopes
Stroke: Savanna Neuman
3: Maggie Ruddell
2: Santana Rigor
Bow: Adair Tilghman