01/26/2026

MIAMI, Fla. — Aislyn Barnett and Cassie Bauer led the Florida Gulf Coast University women’s swimming and diving team (2-1) to a 178-121 dual-meet win over Florida International University on Saturday at the Doral Aquatic Center.

Barnett and Bauer each earned two individual wins for the Eagles. Barnett won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:21.38 and later took the 200-yard breaststroke (2:19.39). Bauer secured the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.25) and followed with a first-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (2:02.17).

FGCU Head Coach Dave Rollins was impressed by the duo’s performance in the season’s first traditional dual-meet setting.

“I think it was great to see. I mean this is our first traditional dual-meet that we’ve had all season,” Rollins said. “It was a different format than the team’s been used to, but it was great to see them step up and it kind of shows our depth as well, because while they won a couple of events each we had multiple people across multiple events picking up wins. It wasn’t any one or two or three people. It was a full team experience to get the overall win.”

The meet served as FIU’s Senior Day, creating a high-energy environment as the Panthers honored their graduating class. Coach Rollins noted that the celebration provided a unique motivation for his own roster.

“I think that those that are going to be celebrating senior day next week they understood the special aspect of it and were kind of using that to help motivate themselves as well, knowing that they’re going to get that kind of boost next week too,” Rollins said. “I think our team did a very good job of celebrating and honoring FIU seniors and congratulating them and clapping for them as well. I think they knew the mission in front of them and were able to keep their heads on straight and motivate themselves to have a great day.”

FGCU opened the day with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Izzy Ackley, Bauer, Libby Russum and Mia Burke finished first in 1:40.57.

Coach Rollins emphasized that beating a strong FIU relay squad was a specific point of emphasis for the group.

“Knowing that the 200 medley relay is also one of FIU’s strengths kind of helped motivate our ladies to perform very well,” Rollins said. “We had a chance to compete against that relay back in October and we were fortunate to get a win back then and they know how close that race was. We’ve been practicing and executing relay exchanges more recently to kind of make those a little bit sharper, because I think that’s a relay that’s got a legitimate shot of making the NCAA Championships. That foursome is pretty locked in on that goal.”

FGCU’s distance depth was on full display as the Eagles claimed every spot on the 1,000 free podium, led by Barnett’s winning time of 10:21.38, while Lily Magda took second (10:27.40) and Emmakate Zanoli secured third (10:42.95) to complete the event sweep. Jasmin Kroll added to the lead by winning the 200 free in 1:51.33, followed by Nadia Helm in second (1:53.75).

Other individual winners included Nori Hetyei in the 200-yard butterfly (2:06.42), Russum in the 50 free (23.23) and Leah Gentry-Tuney in the 100 free (51.32).

Magda earned another top finish in the 500 free (5:07.11), as Kroll and Zanoli finished second and third to complete another FGCU podium sweep.

Coach Rollins noted that these multi-point finishes were the intended strategy to negate the Panthers’ home-pool advantage.

“I think it’s really encouraging because when the team can work together it’s a selfless act it’s not just who wins, somebody wins we got to get second right?” Rollins said. “As I was telling our team before the meet started the last time we beat FIU it was because of our depth. It was because we had more second, third and fourth place finishes not necessarily we had more first place finishes. Just kind of reiterating the fact that it’s not always getting your hand on the wall first, it’s how you back that up with a second, third or fourth place finish right? If they (FIU) happen to win an event how can we negate that event win by getting a second, third or fourth place finish.”

The relay team of Kroll, Gentry-Tuney, Russum and Helm closed the swimming events by winning the 400 free relay in 3:25.04.

In the diving well, Alexandra Andueza finished second in both the 1-meter dive (258.08) and the 3-meter dive (295.43).

The Eagles return to the FGCU Aquatics Center on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 31 at noon to host North Florida for Senior Day.

I asked Coach Rollins his thoughts on the legacy his seniors are leaving.

“I think they’ve seen quite a transformation over the last four years. When they were freshmen we finished fourth in the conference and that was kind of an eye-opening experience for us. The conference has gone through fluctuation. Our team was going through a bit of a rebuild phase and ever since then it’s continued to slowly climb up third, to second and hopefully walking away with the trophy this year. They’ve been essential in helping us continue to grow and develop and hopefully we can continue that moving forward,” Rollins said.

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