Meulebeek Qualifies for NCAA Zones, Deroide Breaks Program Record in First Day of Rice Fall Splash

HOUSTON – Junior Manou Meulebeek qualified for the NCAA Zone "D" Diving Championships in the three-meter springboard for the third consecutive year to lead The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros swimming & diving program at the Rice Fall Splash Friday.

Meulebeek picked up a second-place finish in the three-meter springboard after recording a six-dive score of 280.25, surpassing the NCAA Zone qualifying standard of 280. Rice's Morgan Robson won the event with a score of 300.35. Meanwhile, freshmen Kiyana Perez added a fifth-place finish with a score of 234.50 and Madelaine Bailey finished eighth with a score of 170.75.

In the pool, freshman Louise Deroide broke the program record in the 100 breaststroke with a sixth-place finish in 1:07.56, surpassing the previous mark of 1:07.60 set by sophomore Jaydy Jay in 2025. Deroide also improved her entry time by 1.50 seconds.

Overall, the Vaqueros currently sit in third place with 196 points after the opening day of the Rice Fall Splash, trailing Rice, which leads the five-team field with 455 points, and UIW, which sits in second with 212 points. Loyola New Orleans is fourth with 113.5 points, followed by St. Thomas with 50.5.

Sophomore Dia Henderson recorded two top-10 individual finishes, placing seventh in the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 1:02.16 and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle in 54.48. Henderson shaved 4.40 seconds off her entry time in the individual medley.

Deroide added a 10th-place finish in the 100 individual medley with a time of 1:03.82, improving her entry time by 3.48 seconds. Freshmen Eirini Natsiou followed in 12th at 1:04.51, and Gabriella Ruiz finished 16th in 1:10.37.

Sophomore Sasapin Sarawas and junior Annaleagh Stahl recorded consecutive finishes in the 200-yard backstroke. Sarawas placed seventh with a time of 2:11.61, followed by Stahl in eighth at 2:12.48. SeniorChloe Siegrist added a 12th-place finish in 2:26.91.

Freshman Ellie Bailey led UTRGV in the 500-yard freestyle, placing eighth with a time of 5:28.29, cutting 9.02 seconds off her entry time. Stahl followed in ninth at 5:31.81, while sophomore Ellinor Plant finished 11th in 5:39.84.

Natsiou led the Vaqueros in the 200-yard butterfly, placing 10th with a time of 2:15.88. Plant followed in 14th at 2:32.27, while junior Alexia Gonzalez finished 15th in 2:39.89.
Stahl added a 10th-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley, clocking in at 4:55.49, while Jay finished 10th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.99.

UTRGV opened Friday's swimming competition with a seventh-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay, as Sarawas, Deroide, Natsiou and Henderson combined for a time of 4:01.07.

The Vaqueros closed the swimming portion of the meet with a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking in at 1:40.99. UTRGV's B relay followed in eighth at 1:47.03.

UTRGV returns to action Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for the final day of the Rice Fall Splash.

Team Standings After Day One

Place	Team	Points
1	Rice	455
2	UIW	212
3	UTRGV	196
4	Loyola New Orleans	113.5
5	St. Thomas	50.5

Complete UTRGV Results — Friday
Diving
Women's 3-Meter (Six Dives)
2. Manou Meulebeek – 280.25 (NCAA Zone D qualifying score)
5. Kiyana Perez – 234.50
8. Madelaine Bailey – 170.75

Swimming
400-Yard Medley Relay
7. Sasapin Sarawas, Louise Deroide, Eirini Natsiou, Dia Henderson – 4:01.07

500-Yard Freestyle
8. Ellie Bailey – 5:28.29
9. Annaleagh Stahl – 5:31.81
11. Ellinor Plant – 5:39.84
14. Madi Lofgren – 5:45.94
15. Jaydy Jay – 5:46.40
16. Chloe Siegrist – 5:49.67

100-Yard Individual Medley
7. Dia Henderson – 1:02.16
10. Louise Deroide – 1:03.82
12. Eirini Natsiou – 1:04.51
16. Gabriella Ruiz – 1:10.37
19. Alexia Gonzalez – 1:15.04

200-Yard Backstroke
7. Sasapin Sarawas – 2:11.61
8. Annaleagh Stahl – 2:12.48
12. Chloe Siegrist – 2:26.91
16. Lauren Uribe – 2:41.18

200-Yard Butterfly
10. Eirini Natsiou – 2:15.88
14. Ellinor Plant – 2:32.27
15. Alexia Gonzalez – 2:39.89

100-Yard Breaststroke
6. Louise Deroide – 1:07.56 (School Record)
10. Jaydy Jay – 1:11.99

100-Yard Freestyle
9. Dia Henderson – 54.48
12. Ida Rudelius – 56.05
15. Sasapin Sarawas – 58.06
18. Madi Lofgren – 58.64
22. Ellie Bailey – 59.61
23. Gabriella Ruiz – 59.84
30. Lauren Uribe – 1:03.52

400-Yard Individual Medley
7. Annaleagh Stahl – 4:55.49

200-Yard Freestyle Relay
6. Dia Henderson, Louise Deroide, Eirini Natsiou, Ida Rudelius – 1:40.99
8. Jaydy Jay, Madi Lofgren, AJ Rogers, Sasapin Sarawas – 1:47.03

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Players Mentioned

Alexia Gonzalez: Swim; Junior

Dia Henderson: Swim; Sophomore

Jaydy Jay: Swim; Sophomore

Manou Meulebeek: Dive; Junior

Ellinor Plant: Swim; Sophomore

AJ Rogers: Swim; 5' 8"; Senior

Ida Rudelius: Swim; Junior

Sasapin Sarawas: Swim; Sophomore

Chloe Siegrist: Swim; Senior

Annaleagh Stahl: Swim; Junior

Players Mentioned

Alexia Gonzalez
: Junior
: Swim

Dia Henderson
: Sophomore
: Swim

Jaydy Jay
: Sophomore
: Swim

Manou Meulebeek
: Junior
: Dive

Ellinor Plant
: Sophomore
: Swim

AJ Rogers
: 5' 8"; Senior
: Swim

Ida Rudelius
: Junior
: Swim

Sasapin Sarawas
: Sophomore
: Swim

Chloe Siegrist
: Senior
: Swim

Annaleagh Stahl
: Junior
: Swim

Texas Rio Grande Valley Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned