PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware women’s rowing squad closed out the 2007 season Saturday afternoon by placing fifth in the semifinals of the Second Varsity Eights race and sixth in the semifinals of the Novice Eights competition at the annual Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River.

The top three teams in the Second Varsity Eights and the top two teams in the Novice Eights race advanced to Sunday’s finals. The meet closed out the 2007 season for the Blue Hens, who earlier this year placed second at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships and seventh at the ECAC Metro Championships.

The Blue Hens Second Varsity Eights team (at right) of coxswain Cami Off, Katie Broullire, Lana Rivers, Jenn Boutin, Rachel Thomas, Maria Bellumori, Nicolette Lotrionte, Katie Gooding, and Lynn Hamski placed fifth in the semifinals with a time of 7:05.62 but did not advance to the finals. Buffalo won the race with a time of 6:44.46 followed by Saint Joseph’s (6:51.46), Massachusetts (6:52.83), Alabama (6:56.76), Delaware (7:05.62), and Bryn Mawr (7:30.30).

Delaware’s Novice Eights team of coxswain Avery Griffin, Mary Grace Maggiano, Liz Cretekos, Alexx DeLorme, Jess Brooks, Regine Adrien, Brittany Hayes, Arielle Katz, and Kialeen Hay rowed to a time of 7:09.44 to place sixth in the semifinals but did not advance to the finals. Saint Joseph’s won the race in a time of 6:53.49 followed by Purdue (6:58.05), Lehigh (6:59.22), Tulsa (7:07.59), Creighton (7:09.03), and Delaware.

In Friday’s heat competition, Delaware placed third in the Novice Eights, third in the Second Varsity Eights, fourth in the Varsity Fours, fourth in the Varsity Eights, and fourth in the Novice Fours.

AGATE:

Novice Eights Semifinals (top two advance): 1. St. Joseph's - 6:53.49; 2. Purdue - 6:58.05; 3. Lehigh - 6:59.22; 4. Tulsa - 7:07.59; 5. Creighton - 7:09.03; 6. Delaware - 7:09.44 (Avery Griffin, Mary Grace Maggiano, Liz Cretekos, Alexx DeLorme, Jess Brooks, Regine Adrien, Brittany Hayes, Arielle Katz, Kialeen Hay)

Second Varsity Eights Semifinals (top three advance): 1. Buffalo - 6:44.46; 2. St. Joseph's - 6:51.46; 3. Massachusetts - 6:52.83; 4. Alabama - 6:56.76; 5. Delaware - 7:05.62 (Cami Off, Katie Broullire, Lana Rivers, Jenn Boutin, Rachel Thomas, Maria Bellumori, Nicolette Lotrionte, Katie Gooding, and Lynn Hamski); 6. Bryn Mawr - 7:30.30