PITTSBURGH - The Duquesne women's swimming and diving team heads to Lynchburg, Va. for the Liberty TYR '85 Invitational on Friday through Sunday at the Liberty Natatorium. 

The Dukes return to competition after two weeks off following the Atlantic 10 Classic on Nov. 2-3 at the SPIRE Institute, where Duquesne posted a 4-0 showing with victories over conference foes George Mason, La Salle, Saint Louis and St. Bonaventure.

The two-time A-10 champion Dukes are slated to face off with the host Flames, Campbell, James Madison, Marshall, Navy, North Florida, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Vanderbilt at the Liberty Invite this weekend. 

Duquesne bested the Patriots 189-157, the Explorers 231-120, Billikens 180-173 and Bonnies 194-158 its last time out at the A-10 Classic. The Dukes defeated all teams in three events on the day, including Sophia Perez (Chapel Hill, N.C. / East Chapel Hill) in the 100-yard butterfly with a mark of 58.11 as well as newcomers Emma Menzer (Newark, Del. / Newark Charter) in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:43.62 and Sidney O'Donnell (Solon, Ohio / Solon) in the 1-meter dive with a score of 250.5.

For her performance, Menzer earned A-10 Women's Swimming and Diving Rookie of the Week laurels. In addition to her first-place showing in the 1,650-yard freestyle, she also topped swimmers from George Mason, La Salle and Saint Louis in the 200-yard IM (2:07.76) and 400-yard IM (4:30.51) with second-place finishes in those events.

Menzer's time in the 1,650-yard freestyle is the top in the A-10 so far this season followed by fellow Duke Cateri Christinis (Charleroi, Pa. / Oakland Catholic) next at 17:45.01. Emma Brinton's (Landenberg, Pa. / Avon Grove) time in the 200 IM (2:04.75) is good for second in the league. 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 
Nov. 22, 2019 – 10 a.m. prelims, 6 p.m. finals
200 Freestyle Relay
500 Freestyle
200 IM
50 Freestyle
3-Meter Diving
200 Medley Relay

Nov. 23, 2019 – 10 a.m. prelims, 6 p.m. finals
200 Medley Relay
10-minute break
100 Butterfly
400 IM
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
1-Meter Diving
800 Freestyle Relay

Nov. 24, 2019 – 10 a.m. prelims, 5 p.m. finals
1650 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
Platform Diving
400 Freestyle Relay


NEXT UP 
Duquesne is back in action with the U.S. Winter Nationals on Dec. 5 through Dec. 7 in Atlanta, Ga. before the Dukes head to the Sunshine State for their annual Florida training trip.