Behind a trio of young Violets, the 2009-10 New York University women's swimming & diving team produced another great season for head coach Lauren Beam. NYU finished the season with an 8-1 dual-meet record to go along with a third-place finish at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships and a 40th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

After her latest season, Beam currently holds a 55-4 (.932) career coaching record at NYU. In fact, Beam has never lost two dual meets in one season since taking over in 2004-05.

Kelly Dietz, a sophomore transfer from Southern Methodist University stepped in right away to contribute to the team's success. In her first meet as a Violet, the season-opening NYU Invitational, Dietz set a school record with a 274.50-point performance in the one-meter dive.

An NCAA qualifier, Dietz took 12th place in the three-meter dive (season-high, 437.60 points), 13th place in the one-meter dive (402.95), and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in both events.

Also competing at the NCAA's were sophomore Molly Rippe and freshman Tatum Gormley. Rippe notched Honorable Mention All American status with a 14th-place finish in the one-mile freestyle (17:20.14). She also placed 27th in the 500 freestyle and 50th in the 200 freestyle. Gormley finished 20th in the 400 individual medley, 40th in the 200 individual medley and 41st in the 100 butterfly (59.36).

At the UAA Championships, Dietz placed second in both the one-meter (418.10) and three-meter (424 points) dives. Overall during the season, she posted victories in 13 of 16 events at dual meets.

"Overall, a great season and a great NCAA performance for Kelly," said NYU diving coach Scott Donie. "She was steady in all of her dives and had a spectacular performance in her first national competition. I'm looking forward to another strong season for her next year."

The Violets began the season with a 7-0 record, including first-place finishes at the NYU, Rochester and MIT invitationals. The team's only defeat of the season came in the second-to-last dual meet against The College of New Jersey.

When not competing in the pool, the Violets were excelling on dry land, as well. Overall, 22 team members earned UAA Winter Sport All-Academic honors, the most of any NYU team.