ATHENS, Ga. – With a record-setting performance in the 200-yard medley relay, a first place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay and a second place three-meter dive the FGCU swimming & diving team (10-2, 3-0 CCSA) sits in first place after day one of the 2015 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Conference Championship at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens on the campus of the University of Georgia.

The Green and Blue qualified for an NCAA 'A' Cut tonight at the CCSA Championship in the 200 yard medley relay which automatically sends them to the NCAA Finals which start on March 19 in Greensboro, N.C at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. 

The Eagles lead the pack with 205 points while Incarnate Word sits in second with a score of 187. Georgia Southern (146), Liberty (112) and Gardern-Webb (106) round out the top five.

"Just a great start for the team," said head coach Neal Studd. "Everyone is swimming great and having fun. Our divers scored some great points tonight, especially our senior Cayla [Collins] with a second place finish. Winning two relays tonight was special. Our first ever relay to qualify for an NCAA Automatic Cut for a trip to the NCAA finals in the 200 medley relay. Then also winning the 800 free relay by five seconds. This was a really awesome start."

Starting the night in record-breaking fashion, the Green and Blue placed first in the 200-yard medley relay with a CCSA, CCSA Championship meet and an FGCU program-record 1:37.17. The team of Kira Toussaint (Amstelveen, Netherlands/Keizer Karel College), Katie Armitage (Bushey, United Kingdom/Queens School Bushey), Emma Svensson (Upsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan) and Rebecca Derogatis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Indian River/Cardinal Gibbons HS) beat out the defending champions in Liberty who finished in second with a time of 1:39.73.

Up next for the Eagles was the three-meter dive which saw Cayla Collins (Largo, Fla./Osceola High School) finish in second place with a score of 295.65. Kali Lents from the University of Incarnate Word won the event, receiving a score of 340.85.  

The final event on the day for FGCU was the 800 yard freestyle relay which saw the team of Armitage, Toussaint, Nina Schiffer (Dortmund, Germany/SG Dortmund) and Lani Cabrera (Barbados/St. Ursala's Secondary School) break another program-record with a first place finish in a time of 7:16.90. The Flames of Liberty were the second place finishers with a time of 7:21.10.

The Eagles will return tomorrow for day two with prelims starting at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. For live scoring, video streaming, ticket prices and other championship information, please visit www.TheCCSA.com. For complete coverage of FGCU women's swimming and diving over the weekend, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WSWIM and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com.

FGCU is led by Neal Studd, who has garnered four CCSA Coach of the Year awards, won five CCSA Championships (2009-13) and guided the Eagles to a 25-1 CCSA all-time record since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just three years of postseason eligibility, Studd has coached NCAA Championship Meet qualifiers and competitors each of the three years, with 2014 yielding the best results to date as the Eagles claimed 32nd place and produced two CSCAA All-America honorees.

FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.

Women's Team Scores: FGCU 205, Incarnate Word 187, Georgia Southern 146, Liberty 112, Gardner-Webb 106, Campbell 96, Virginia Military 95, UNC Ashville 92, UNF 88, North Carolina A&T 74, Howard 34.

200 Medley Relay – Finals
1. Toussaint/Armitage/Svensson/Derogatis

3M Diving – Finals
2. Collins
5. Buening
6. Malewicki

800 freestyle Relay – Final
1. Toussaint/Armitage/Cabrera/Schiffer

DAY TWO EVENTS
500 Freestyle
200 IM
50 Freestyle
1M Diving
200 Freestyle Relay