WILMINGTON, DE -- The University of Delaware opened its 2006 fall exhibition season by winning the Varsity Eights race in a dual meet scrimmage vs. Lehigh Saturday on the Christina River.

The Delaware Varsity Eights team of Kenna Plangemann, Elizabeth Carey, Laura Beaufort, Melanie Turner, Christina Stanley, Justine Strausser, Lisa Ferrara, Jenn Boutin, and Nikki Jackowsky won in a time of 15:40.64, just .11 faster than the team from Lehigh.

The Blue Hens finished second in the Second Varsity Eights race as the team of Callie Tegan, Lily Chavarriaga, Rachel Thomas, Maria Bellumori, Lisa Medina, Taima McCartney, Lana Rivers, and Emily Caniff rowed to a time of 18:04.56, 57 seconds behind the winning time of 17:07.06 by Lehigh.

Delaware had three teams compete in the Varsity Fours race, which won won by Lehigh in a time of 17:27.76. Delaware B was second in 18:32.33 followed by Lehigh B (18:38.08), Delaware C (19:10.22), Delaware A (19:16.39), and Lehigh C (20:02.22).

The Blue Hen B team consisted of Amanda Burton, Justine Strausser, Lisa Ferrara, Jenn Boutin, and Nicky Jackowsky, the Delaware C team was comprised of Avery Griffin, Arielle Katz, Lindsay Ferzoco, Jess Brooks, and Melanie Turner, and the Delaware A team consisted of Cami Off, Emily Canniff, Lynn Hamski, Katie Gooding, and Nicolette Lotrionte.