WASHINGTON – First year Priya Frank (Colorado Springs, Colo.) won two distance events, including a thrilling 500-yard freestyle race, as the Gallaudet University women's swimming team snapped a 16-meet losing streak with a 90-86 victory over Hood College in its 2026-27 season and home opener Saturday afternoon in the Field House Pool.

Frank won the 500 freestyle in 6 minutes, 32.97 seconds, edging Hood's Gabrielle Lonmore (6:33.58) by just 0.61 seconds. The victory was one of two individual wins for Frank in her collegiate debut as she also captured the 1,000 freestyle in 13:43.65.

The victory was Gallaudet's first since Nov. 16, 2024, when the Bison defeated Chowan University, 111-88, in Virginia Beach, Va. GU went winless during the 2025-26 season before opening its new campaign with Saturday's four-point victory.

Every point proved important as Gallaudet (1-0) used its depth throughout the meet to remain within striking distance of the Blazers (0-1).

Junior Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va.) finished second in the 1,000 freestyle (17:35.76) behind Frank to give the Bison a 1-2 finish in the event.

Sophomore Adelle Patton (Puyallup, Wash.) recorded three top-three finishes. Patton placed second in the 100 butterfly (1:22.31) and 100 backstroke (1:19.94) and was third in the 100 individual medley (1:22.91).

First year Jenna Callahan (Pocatello, Idaho) also turned in three third-place performances with finishes in the 100 individual medley (1:21.84), 100 butterfly (1:30.99) and 500 freestyle (7:33.02).

Sophomore Mary Figueroa (Moreno Valley, Calif.) took second in the 50 freestyle (40.25) and 100 breaststroke (2:00.20) and added a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke (2:12.70).

First year Mariska Dize (Port Richey, Fla.) was third in the 200 freestyle (2:38.04) and 100 backstroke (1:24.82). Junior Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.) contributed points in three events with a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:26.95) and additional finishes in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.

Hood won six individual events and the opening 200 medley relay. Sophia Routzahn led the Blazers with victories in the 50 freestyle (25.12) and 100 butterfly (1:00.42), while Lindsay DeLauder won the 100 individual medley (1:11.57) and 100 breaststroke (1:19.37).

Gallaudet entered the final event trailing Hood, 86-79, and needed to win the 200 freestyle relay to overtake the Blazers.

The Bison delivered.

The quartet of Dize, Salcedo Benavides, Frank and first year Valerie Salgado (Lawrence, Mass.) won the relay in 2:18.82 to earn 11 points and complete the comeback victory.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet travels to Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va., next Saturday, Oct. 10, for a tri-meet with the host WildCats and Southern Virginia University.