BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Biola University Women's Swimming recorded multiple landmark  individual finishes at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships hosted in Birmingham, Alabama. As a team, BU finished 14th of 28 teams with 36 points at the 2021 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. It's the first time in program history that Biola scored at NCAA Division II nationals.

With so many milestones reached this season, Head Coach Ryan Kauth continues to be in awe of his team and their dedication throughout the season. "This week gives us a lot to think about. It provides a great opportunity for current, former and future Biola swimmers and divers to reflect on how far this program has come, and the potential for how far we can still go," said Kauth. 

"The results we achieved at NCAAs was a collective effort of 21 women training to become one of the best programs in the country. This week was a product of strong, female athletes pushing each other every day on Biola's campus to get the chance to showcase their talents at  the National level. Kolya, Meghan and Grace were remarkable representations of that even larger team effort," said Kauth.

Grace Kling, Meghan Tolman and Kolya Vos all represented BU well while competing in their respective events throughout the week.

Kolya Vos started the action for the Eagles in the 200-freestyle. Due to the severe weather threat, day one's events were cut short causing the 200-yard-freestyle to be a final heat only.

The change in schedule proved no issue for Vos as she cracked the top-10, placing 9th of 33 with a time of 1:50.33. She came into the championships with a top time of 1:52.58, which was 48th-best in the nation. It was a massive improvement at just the right time.

Vos was sure to soak in every moment of the NCAA Championships. "I feel so grateful to be able to have competed at NCAA's alongside two of my teammates as well as representing Biola," said Vos. "Personally I'm still processing that I actually competed at NCAA's, it has been a goal of mine since freshman year and being able to achieve that goal as well as place in the top 10 in the country has been really amazing."

Meghan Tolman and Grace Kling were next to hit the starting blocks in the 100-breaststroke prelims, which featured 24 swimmers. In her first NCAA Championships appearance, the freshman Kling finished 19th with a time of 1:04.18. Her finish was nearly four seconds faster than her last 100-breaststroke against Pepperdine, where she recorded a time of 1:07.95.
 
In a year that presented so many difficulties, Kling and the Eagles made sure to adapt. "It's definitely not been easy, but I really think the challenges the entire team has faced has really brought us closer," said Kling.

While she has had some time to process her accomplishments, Kling continues to be grateful that the Eagles were able to compete this season. "If someone had asked me this time a year ago if I thought I'd have any swim season I would've said no. I'm so incredibly thankful for everything my coaches have done to get us and keep us in the water," said Kling. 

Tolman, another standout freshman for BU, had quite the performance in the 100-breaststroke. She exploded off the blocks to finish third overall in prelims. Her time of 1:02.18 was good enough to break the Biola school record set in 2017 by Lisa Tixier. 

Tolman's finish moved her on to the finals where she would place 8th in the championship heat with a time of 1:03.22. This made her Biola's first NCAA Division II All-American first team recipient.

Similar to her teammates, Tolman has yet to fully wrap her mind around the accomplishments of the last week. "I honestly haven't been able to realize that I made it this far," said Tolman. "I'm hoping that through this experience I can identify ways I can improve personally and as a teammate."

On the final day, Vos would get back to action for her second event, and her preferred event, the 100-freestyle. The sophomore continued to stand out while competing against 31 swimmers in the prelims. She earned a 12th-place finish with a time of :51.21 to advance her to the consolation finals. 

In one of the most competitive events in all of swimming, Vos again finished in the top-10, earning a 10th place finish by placing second in the consolation final (:50.88). 

Kling would wrap up the action for BU in the 200-breaststroke, where she would also finish top-10 with a 9th place finish and WIN in the consolation final. Kling went 2:18.19 in the morning to finish 13th in prelims and then paced the heat in the evening by dropping nearly two seconds to record a 2:16.97. Her time was just a half-second back from the final finisher in the 'A' final.

For their efforts finishing ninth-16th, Kolya Vos (200-free, 100-free) and Grace Kling (200-breast) earned All-American second team honors awarded by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association.

Achieving a top-15 finish at the NCAA championships in only their second year of being eligible for postseason is reason enough to celebrate. But to also add in what the team accomplished, leaves Kauth speechless. 

"To accomplish the feat with two freshman and a sophomore is even more impressive," said Kauth. "I cannot accurately articulate my excitement for these women, and how impressed, and inspired they have left me."

This is just the start of exciting postseason competition for Biola Swim & Dive. The full teams are back in action at the Pacific Collegiate Swim & Dive Conference Championships April 14-17. Both teams earned program-best third place finishes in 2020. Improvement is inevitable in 2021.