KNOXVILLE, Tenn.?The #18 University of Kentucky women?s swimming and diving team opened their 2007-08 campaign with a split decision at the tri-meet at Tennessee on Friday. The women defeated South Carolina 183-117, but dropped a 187-113 score to the 12th ranked Volunteers.

The women?s team was led by a two-win performance from freshman diver Jessica Snowden. In her collegiate debut, Snowden notched the top scores on both the one-meter and three-meter boards. Snowden first scored a 270.65 mark on the one-meter. Continuing her success she tallied the sixth best score in school-history on the three-meter with a 308.80 decision.

Kentucky knotted two other first place finishes in their opening meet of the season, each by a senior. Lindsay Myhre controlled the 200-breaststroke tapping in a time of 2:22.29. She also came in second in the 100-breast finishing in 1:05.20.

Jenny Bradford topped the field in the 50-freestyle with a time of 23.12. The Groveport, Ohio, native also tapped in second in the 100-free with a time of 51.47 to open the season. Heather Bradford placed second in the 100-fly in a time of 55.54.

Freshman Jenna Newsome enjoyed an impressive start to her career, placing third in both of the backstroke events. She tapped in a time of 58.43 in the 100-back, and a time of 2:06.06 in the 200-back.

Kentucky?s relay teams finished second behind the Lady Volunteers in both the 400-free and the 200-medley. The 400-free team comprised of Newsome, Heather Bradford, freshman Kayla Sergesketter and Jenny Bradford touched in a time of 3:27.14.

The Bradfords were joined by senior Jill Southerlan and Myhre in the 200-medley relay and clocked in a time of 1:44.56.

Kentucky returns to the water tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. when they tangle with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. This will be the first ever meeting under Coach Gary Conelly between the Hokies and the Wildcats for both the men and the women.

Complete results of the meet against Virginia Tech can be found at www.ukathletics.com.