March 13, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – South Carolina could not find its rhythm on Friday’s first day of the NCAA Zone B Diving competition, and the Gamecocks did not advance any divers past the preliminary round in the women’s three-meter or men’s one-meter events. The groups will switch places tomorrow at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center with the women going off the one-meter board and the men competing in the three-meter event.

Allison Barr had the top finish for South Carolina, turning in a score of 247.30 and earning a 23rd place finish. Barr started strong with a 48.60 on her first dive, an inward 2 1/2 somersault tuck, but struggled with some of her later dives and could not crack the top 18 to advance to the finals.

Sophomore Taryn Zack, the SEC runner-up on the three-meter board, had a couple of rough dives in the middle of her list and finished with a score of 239.70 and a 32nd-place finish. Zack was in the top 10 through her first three dives, but her third, fourth and fifth dives were not up to her usual standards, and she missed out on the finals for the first time in zone competition. She will have another chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships with tomorrow’s one-meter competition, where she is usually at her best.

Just behind Zack was freshman Helen Alvey with a 237.75 to finish 33rd, and junior Morgan Ricke turned in a 204.30 to finish 43rd.

On the men’s side, freshman Ryan Kuser was South Carolina’s lone entry, and he finished 32nd in the one-meter event with a 254.65.

The second day of diving gets underway at noon Saturday with the women’s one-meter and men’s three-meter competitions. Live results can be followed at divemeets.com.