East Meadow, N.Y.--- At the 2000 Big East Conference Championships held at the Goodwill Games Swimming Center in East Meadow, N.Y., the Villanova University women's swimming & diving team finished the three-day championships (Feb. 17-19) in fourth place, while the Wildcat men posted an eighth place finish. Highlighting the 2000 championships was junior Kate Volz (Ft. Myers, Fla./ Cypress Lake H.S.) who won her first career Big East title, tallying a first place finish in the 1,650 yard freestyle (16:40.51).

Taking the women's title was Notre Dame, who finished with 829.5 points. Following the Irish was Rutgers (437), Miami (436), Villanova (401), West Virginia (392), Pittsburgh (380), Connecticut (245.5), Boston College (229), Syracuse (200), Georgetown (76), St. John's (75), Seton Hall (70), and Providence (44). It was the fourth straight year that the Notre Dame women won the Big East title.

Female Swimmer of the Year honors were earned by Carrie Nixon of Notre Dame, while diving honors went to Jenny Keim of Miami. The women's Diving Coach of the Year was Randy Abbleman of Miami, while Rutgers' Chuck Warner was named Big East Swimming Coach of the Year.

On the men's side, Pittsburgh won the 2000 Big East Championship by 236 points. Following the Panthers (736) was Notre Dame (501), Rutgers (438), Syracuse (407.5), St. John's (359.5), Miami (290), West Virginia (289), Villanova 214), Connecticut (211.5), Seton Hall (179.5), Georgetown (81), Boston College (67) and Providence (40). Like the Notre Dame women, it was also the fourth straight campaign that the Pittsburgh men took the conference title.

The Big East Male Swimmer of the Year was Mike Pron of Pittsburgh, while diving honors went to Imre Lengyel of Miami. Abbleman took Diving Coach of the Year accolades on the men's side as well, while Swimming Coach of the Year status went to Chuck Knowles of Pittsburgh.

Also posting top three finishes on day three for Villanova were Julie Lapinsky who finished third in the 200 backstroke (2:03.37), Kristen Olson who placed third in the 100 freestyle (51.19), and the Wildcat 400 yard freestyle relay team of Olson, Lapinsky, Tara Brock and Katie Long, who finished second (3:26.69).

Top 3 finishes by Villanova on day 3 of the 2000 Big East Championships:

1,650 yard freestyle- 1. Kate Volz (16:40.51)

200 yard backstroke- 3. Julie Lapinsky (2:03.37)

100 yard freestyle- 3. Kristen Olson (51.19)

400 yard free relay- 2. Olson, Brock, Lapinsky, Long (3:26.69)