April 28, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships
Stanford will play host to the 2009 U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships from the Avery Aquatic Center from April 30 - May 2. More than 100 elite athletes will vie for national titles in the solo, duet and team events in the nation's most prestigious competition. The 2009 U.S. National Championships will mark the 64th year of national competition in the duet and team events and the 60th year of solo competition.
Saturday, May 2, the U.S. Nationals will be available on a live webcast at the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Website at the following link: http://www.usasynchro.org/
Tickets for Thursday and Friday's competition are $8 and $5 with a Stanford ID. Tickets for finals on Saturday are $15 and $10 with a Stanford ID. Three-day event passes can be purchased for $25.
Stanford Looks To Repeat
Stanford Synchro made history last season when they became the first collegiate team to earn a share of the U.S. National title. This season the Cardinal will be hosting an outstanding field with a new look team that includes five freshmen. Stanford will compete in the team competition, as well as two duets and one solo. In the free team program Erin Bell, Debbie Chen, Taylor Durand, Morgan Fuller, Maria Koroleva, Olivia Morgan, Michelle Moore and Corinne Smith will represent Stanford. In the technical routine, Alex Bollaidlaw replaces Morgan Fuller to make up the Cardinal squad. The two Stanford duets will be the experienced duo of Debbie Chen and Taylor Durand and the freshmen pairing of Maria Koroleva and Olivia Morgan. Finally, Morgan will also compete as the Stanford soloist.
Last season Sara Lowe led Stanford by winning the U.S. solo title as well as teaming with Courtenay Stewart for the duet championship. The Cardinal also won the team competition, the first ever collegiate team to accomplish that feat.
Stanford Finishes As National Collegiate Runner-up
After four consecutive national collegiate titles, Stanford synchronized swimming settled for second place in 2009. The Cardinal had several strong swims, but it was not enough as Ohio State took the title with 98 points. The Cardinal finished as the national runner-up with 80 points. Canisius College rounded out the top three with 76.5 points. The host school, the University of the Incarnate Word finished fourth with 66.5 points.
The Cardinal were led by a pair of third-place finishes in the duet and trio competitions. The duet of Taylor Durand and Debbie Chen scored 93.167 to earn the bronze medal. A duet from Ohio State took the national title with a score of 95.333. Also faring well in the duet for Stanford was Maria Koroleva and Olivia Morgan. The pair of Stanford freshmen took fifth with a score of 92.000. In the trio competition, the Stanford team of Durand, Koroleva and Morgan finished third with a score of 93.500. They were followed by their teammates Erin Bell, Chen and Michelle Moore in fourth with a score of 91.833. In the team final Stanford had a great showing with a score of 96.333. Unfortunately it was not enough as Ohio State bested the Cardinal with a score of 97.333. The team of Bell, Alex Bollaidlaw, Chen, Durand, Koroleva, Moore, Morgan and Corinne Smith settled for the runner-up position.
Stanford Completes Undefeated Regular Season
The Cardinal finished the regular season undefeated, including capturing the West Regional title. Stanford began on the road where they swept all events in defeating Florida in Gainesville, 63-55. They then returned home to face Incarnate Word in three separate meets. Stanford won all three despite good competition from the visitor's from Texas. Stanford finished up their regular season by traveling to Tucson to defeat Arizona a pair of times, before welcoming them to the Avery Aquatic center to defeat them for a third time. The Cardinnal then captured the West Regional title before heading the San Antonio for nationals.