RADFORD, Va.- The VMI men's swimming and diving team opened up their 2007-08 campaign with a 119-90 loss to Gardner-Webb, while freshman Chelsea Nugent established two more school records for the women's squad on Friday evening at the Dedmon Center Natatorium.

The women's squad, consisting of only Nugent, dropped decisions to Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) rivals Radford (136-6), Gardner-Webb (171-4) and non-conference opponent JMU (197-4). The dual meet between VMI and Gardner-Webb on the men's side also marked the first men's competition for each team in the CCSA.

On the mens' side, the Keydets claimed first-place finishes in the 500 freestyle, with senior Chris Beyer coming in at 5:25.92, the 200 breaststroke, as sophomore Justin Ferrell finished with a 2:40.91, and the 200 freestyle relay, as the team of Hank Lee, Peter Blades, Paul DeValk and Charlie Barnett swam a 1:35.13.

Sophomore Will Rowcliffe placed second in the 50 freestyle with a 23.41, followed by Tristan Euritt, who came in with a 23.84 for third in the event. Rowcliffe also posted a third-place finish for the Keydets with a time of 52.87 in the 100 freestyle, while junior Trevor Stanco put up a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle with a 5:47.02.

Sophomore diver Jeff Turner won both the one-meter and three-meter events for the Keydets, posting a score of 150.45 in the one-meter event and a score of 143.25 in the three-meter.

Meanwhile, Nugent continued her record-setting performances, beginning the evening by establishing a new mark in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:01.86. She then blew away the school record for the 200 breaststroke, as her time of 2:50.95 broke the old mark by almost 13 seconds.

Many of the same teams will be back in action on Saturday morning in Lexington, as VMI hosts their first swim meet in three years at 9 a.m. Competing will be the men's teams for Gardner-Webb and VMI, as well as the women's teams for Gardner-Webb, Radford and VMI.