April 30, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst women's varsity eight rowing crew climbed two spots to No. 3 in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing poll conducted Wednesday. The Lakers received 12 votes to leapfrog Philadelphia University and Nova Southeastern.

Mercyhurst entered the top five poll at No. 5 a week ago but defeated then-No. 3 Philadelphia University by more than six seconds at the NCAA Division II East Regional. The Lakers' time of 6:50.48 was good enough for second place behind No. 2 Dowling, which rowed a 6:43.93.

Western Washington received all four first-place votes to remain No. 1 in the poll with 20 votes. Dowling stayed put at No. 2 with 16 votes. Philadelphia is No. 4 with eight votes and Nova Southeastern rounds out the top five with four votes.

Mercyhurst will be back in action this week at the Mid-America College Rowing Association (MACRA) Regatta in Athens, Ohio Saturday.

COLLEGIATE ROWING COACHES ASSOCIATION/US ROWING
TOP FIVE POLL

Varsity Eights
Team (First place votes) - Points, Previous Week
1 - Western Washington (4) - 20, 1
2 - Dowling - 16, 2
3 - Mercyhurst - 12, 5
4 - Philadelphia - 8, 3
5 - Nova Southeastern - 4, 4