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By Mike Morton

Tinkering training benefits swimmer

After a relatively successful sophomore year, junior swimmer Mary Moser has come out strong and dominated the first half of the season for the Rutgers swimming and diving team. Moser has won six individual events for the Scarlet Knights this year. She has also played a role in Rutgers’ successful relay teams. Moser, who noticed a change in her swimming this year, attributes this improvement to a change in her training. Dec 12 2012

Tougher foes await RU in second leg of season

With the conclusion of Saturday’s meet against Old Dominion and George Washington, the first half of the season and fall semester schedule also came to an end for the Rutgers swimming and diving team. The Scarlet Knights are out of action until Jan. 18, when they face off with Richmond and Central Connecticut State, and then James Madison the following day. But the Knights will not rest much during the long layoff. Following a short break for finals and the holidays, the team returns to Rutgers to continue training for the second half of the season. Dec 5 2012

Rookie swimmer enjoys success in several events

The success freshman swimmer Joanna Wu has experienced may be surprising to some, but for Wu and Rutgers head swimming and diving coach Phil Spiniello, Wu’s freshman year is going exactly as planned. Wu began her rookie season by winning events in each of the Scarlet Knights’ first three meets. She has set several personal bests in the early stages this season, as well. “Joanna’s done a great job since the minute she walked into our program,” Spiniello said. Nov 28 2012

Early success follows Scott on platform

Through her first two years with the Rutgers swimming and diving team, junior diver Nicole Scott had already cemented a place in the program’s record books. She further entrenched her place in Rutgers history Nov. 18 — the final day of the Frank Elm Invitational — by breaking her own record on the platform dive. Scott posted a 269.70 score, breaking her own record of 251.95 she set her freshman year. Head coach Phil Spiniello was excited to see Scott’s performance at this point in the season. Nov 27 2012

Knights’ long layoff ends with weekend outing

Because of Hurricane Sandy, it has been three weeks since the Rutgers swimming and diving team competed against other schools. The hurricane caused the Scarlet Knights to cancel a Nov. 2. quad meet against Big East opponents. But the Knights finally return to the pool for competition today, when they host the Frank Elm Invite through Sunday at the Rutgers Aquatic Center. The Invitational, named after legendary Rutgers coach Frank Elm, features 12 teams. Nov 16 2012

Junior sets record with comeback

Facing triple match point and down, 5-1, in the third set of the quarterfinals, Rutgers tennis team junior Vanessa Petrini was all but finished Sunday at the ITA Regional Championships. Then something rare happened, as she battled back from down, 40-0, winning the seventh game of a deciding set to bring the match to 5-2 against fifth-seeded Jessica Wacnik of Boston College. Petrini then rallied to win the next five games, winning the set, 7-5, and advancing to the semifinals of the tournament for the second straight year. Oct 24 2012

Knights open year with strong showing at home

The Rutgers swimming and diving team splashed into action this weekend when it opened the season with the annual Sony Werblin Invitational. The Scarlet Knights played host to seven teams that traveled to the Rutgers Aquatic Center to participate in the event. The Knights earned 15 first-place finishes at the invitational, including winning all four relay events. The results have head coach Phil Spiniello feeling optimistic about the upcoming season. Oct 22 2012

Knights earn school-record seven invitations to ITA

The Rutgers tennis team competes in its final tournament of the fall season this weekend, when it takes part in the ITA Regional Championships at the Lichtenberg Tennis Center in West Point, N.Y. Seven Scarlet Knights compete in this year’s tournament, the most ever in head coach Ben Bucca’s 10 years with the program. “I think it’s a great testament to the hard work the players have put in this fall,” Bucca said, “as well as the strong results in tournaments.” Oct 17 2012

Freshman reaches finals in first two tournaments

At the age of 13, Lindsey Kayati was diagnosed with epilepsy. Five years later as a freshman for the Rutgers tennis team, she is having a considerable deal of success on the court. Kayati was diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering a seizure while playing a match. It took some time for her to be able to manage the epilepsy on the court, she said. “It took a while, but finally I found the right dosage of medication that I have to take every day,” she said. Oct 10 2012

Rookie earns draw win at USTA Invite

Freshman Mariam Zein made history this weekend for the Rutgers tennis team when it competed in the USTA Invitational in Flushing, N.Y. Zein became the first Scarlet Knight ever to win her singles draw at the USTA Invitational, where she defeated Brown’s Sarah Kandath, 6-2, 7-5, in the finals of the “E” draw. She went a perfect 4-0 for the tournament. “I felt really good about my performance,” Zein said. “In all my matches I came out really focused and confident and ready to win. Oct 9 2012

USTA?Invite presents team with historic setting

After two idle weeks, the Rutgers tennis team takes the court again this weekend when it travels to Flushing Meadows, N.Y., to compete in the USTA Invitational.The Scarlet Knights play for the first time since Sept. 23, when they participated in the Brown Invitational. Much like that tournament, the USTA Invitational is a collection of several teams from around the region competing in a singles tournament. Oct 5 2012

No. 3 NJ recruit bolsters Rutgers with early wins

Freshman Gina Li is not short on accomplishments in her young tennis career. Li earned National High School Tennis All-American honors as a senior for Hillsborough High School (N.J.) before joining the Rutgers tennis team. “It was an honor because tennis isn’t one of the sports where you think that happens to people,” Li said, “but just being from my high school and getting that honor was really great.” Li was also a five-star recruit and the No. 3 player in the state coming out of high school, according to the Tennis Recruiting Network. Oct 1 2012

Balsamo builds on experience from rookie year

Coming off a successful freshman season for the Rutgers tennis team, sophomore Lindsay Balsamo has even higher expectations of herself this season. The Scarlet Knights competed last weekend in the Brown Invitational, in which Balsamo won her singles draw and two doubles matches. “I was excited to do well against some good teams and good players,” Balsamo said. “I felt like I was playing well, especially for the first tournament.” Sep 27 2012

Knights impress head coach at first tournament

Competing against top-level competition, the Rutgers tennis team set out to prove it belonged this weekend when it participated in the Brown Invitational. The Scarlet Knights faced off against top teams in the region, including Boston College and Brown, which finished Nos. 4 and 7, respectively, last season in the Northeast Region final rankings. Binghamton, Boston University and Providence also competed in the tournament. The Knights put in a strong effort and came out successful, said head coach Ben Bucca. Sep 25 2012

Challengers await RU?at Invitational

The Rutgers tennis team begins its tournament schedule this weekend when it competes in the Brown Invitational in Providence, R.I. The Scarlet Knights are one of six teams participating in the tournament, which includes Binghamton, Boston University, Boston College, Brown and Providence. Boston College and Brown each finished last year near the top of the Northeast Rankings. Head coach Ben Bucca is excited for the tournament, and feels the team is ready for the challenge. Sep 21 2012

Former No. 2 NJ recruit leads youthful roster

For junior Stefania Balasa, this upcoming season for the Rutgers tennis team is more than worrying about herself and her own game. It is also about becoming a leader and role model for her younger teammates.Balasa and junior classmate Vanessa Petrini are the lone upperclassmen on the team this season.“It’s definitely a lot different this year,” Balasa said. “Last year, we had this core group of upperclassmen to look up to for guidance and advice. They gave us an example of what Vanessa and I are going to have to do this year.” Sep 14 2012

Rutgers kicks off fall season against NJIT

The Rutgers tennis team saw its first action of the season yesterday, when it took on NJIT in a scrimmage at the Rutgers Tennis Complex. There was no official winner and no score because it was an exhibition, but head coach Ben Bucca said the Scarlet Knights put out an impressive performance. “We played well,” Bucca said. “You can practice all you want, but there’s nothing like competition. I thought we had a good day of playing strong tennis against a really strong team.” Sep 13 2012

RU welcomes fall with youthful outlook

The Rutgers tennis team begins its fall season tomorrow when it hosts NJIT at the Rutgers Tennis Complex.The first match of the year serves as a scrimmage for both squads, as they prepare to begin their respective seasons. The Scarlet Knights look at the match as an opportunity to gain experience and work on their personal games, as well as setting potential lineups for the future, said head coach Ben Bucca. Sep 11 2012

Junior aims to build on career year

Coming off a historic season that saw her advance farther than any Rutgers tennis player in regional championships in the program’s history, junior Vanessa Petrini set her goals even higher this season. “I’m really looking forward to beginning the season and doing just as well, if not better, in regionals,” Petrini said. “I worked hard all summer and trained. I’m going to take each match at a time with all the tournaments coming up this year and do my best.” Sep 5 2012

RU earns season high in goals against Cardinals

The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team defeated Louisville, 16-11, on Friday in a game that featured a season-high in goals scored and a record-setting performance on the field. Junior midfielder Stephanie Anderson scored a team-high five goals for her seventh straight hat trick, and senior midfielder Ali Steinberg recorded four. Anderson and Steinberg tallied their 37th and 28th goals of the season, respectively, to lead the team. Apr 16 2012