May 20, 2008

Indianapolis, Ind. - The Mercyhurst women's varsity eight was selected to compete in the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Rowing Championships May 30 through June 1 at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, Calif.

The Lakers were one of two schools to receive an at-large bid to the championship, along with Philadelphia University. Dowling, UC San Diego, Nova Southeastern and Western Washington will compete for the team championship by fielding a varsity eight and varsity four boat.

Mercyhurst's varsity eight is ranked No. 3 in the country in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division II poll, behind only No. 1 Western Washington and No. 2 Dowling. The team placed third at the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest intercollegiate regatta in the country, five seconds behind Dowling and less than a second behind Grand Valley State. The team finished second at the Mid-American Collegiate Rowing Association Regatta.

The women's rowing team competed at the NCAA Championships each year from 2002-05 and won the school's only Division II National Championship, picking up the title in 2004. The team was national runner-up in 2005.