EAST MEADOW, N.Y. - The Georgia women's swimming and diving team began defense of its national title as the Lady Bulldogs began competition at the 2001 NCAA Championships at the Nassau County Aquatics Center in East Meadow, N.Y. At the end of Day One, Georgia stands in second place with 112.5 points.

"We are happy to be where we are," head coach Jack Bauerle said. "We knew coming in there were five teams that were in the hunt (for the NCAA title), and that was evident tonight. We had hoped for 106 points on the first night, and we got 112.5 and that is a big deal. It was a gutsy performance. It was not picture perfect, but we showed our character.

"The effort was great," added Bauerle. "Tonight we got some help in the 200 IM and both relays. Tomorrow we need to have some great swims, and we need some help from diving. Lauren King has a great shot at doing something special on the 3-meter."

Freshman Julie Hardt, swimming in her first NCAA Championship, earned her first All-America accolade as she captured a fourth-place finish in the 500y free with a time of 4:42.46, her fastest mark of the season.

Georgia had two participants in the 200y individual medley championship final, as junior Ashley Roby finished fourth with a personal-best time of 1:58.59, and senior Keegan Walkley took seventh with a time of 1:59.59.

Junior Stefanie Williams finished in a tie for sixth place along with Texas' Erin Phenix in the 50y free with a time of 22.61, which was a personal-best.

With two relays on tap during the first night of competition, Georgia came away with a fourth-place finish in the 200y free relay in the first event of the evening, and capped Day One with a fifth-place finish in the 400y medley relay in a time of 3:37.62.

Freshman Lauren King suffered from one missed dive to finish in 23rd place in the 1-meter springboard prelims and did not make the finals.

"We are in a fight," said Bauerle of the upcoming two days of competition. "Tonight's performance gives us an opportunity in this meet. Tomorrow is going to be big for us. We are hoping for Keegan and a couple breakstrokers to make finals."