PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware women’s rowing team advanced two boats to Saturday’s semifinals after a successful first day at the Dad Vail Regatta Friday afternoon on the Schuylkill River.

Five Blue Hen boats competed at the prestigious event with the Novice Eights and Second Varsity Eights crews both advancing to the semifinal round Saturday after third place finishes in their respective heats. Also for the Hens, the Varsity Fours team placed fourth in its heat, the Novice Fours placed fourth in its event, and the Varsity Eights boat placed fourth in its heat and fourth in the repechage round but none advanced to Saturday’s competition.

Delaware’s Novice Eights team of coxswain Avery Griffin, Mary Grace Maggiano, Liz Cretekos, Alexx DeLorme, Jess Brooks, Regine Adrien, Brittany Hayes, Arielle Katz, and Kialeen Hay rowed to a time of 7:18.82 to place third in its heat. Alabama won with a time of 7:11.85 followed by Georgia (7:11.90), Delaware, Rochester (7:20.02), Maryland (7:28.72), and Susquehanna (7:38.10). The team will competed in the semfiinals Saturday morning.

The Blue Hens Second Varsity Eights team of coxswain Cami Off, Katie Broullire, Lana Rivers, Jenn Boutin, Rachel Thomas, Maria Bellumori, Nicolette Lotrionte, Katie Gooding, and Lynn Hamski placed third in its heat with a time of 7:15.35. Buffalo won the race with a time of 6:59.54 followed by Dayton (7:04.38), Delaware, Ohio State (7:19.78), and Army (7:38.02). Delaware will competed in the semifinals Saturday.

The Varsity Fours team of coxswain Callie Tegan, Betsy Seeger, Emily Canniff, Lily Chavarriaga, and Catherine Hansen placed fourth with a time of 8:40.57 but did not advance. Lafayette won the race with a time of 7:42.8 followed by Mercyhurst (8:10.3), and Wichita State (8:22.8).

The Novice Fours team of coxswain Ashley Pazdalski, Maureen Reardon, Laura Anglim, Hillary Lamdin, and Erin Venturato placed fourth in its heat with a time of 9:03.18. Penn State won the race with a time of 8:10.8 followed by Connecticut (8:14.66), Fordham (8:16.21), and Delaware.

The Varsity Eights team of coxswain Kenna Plangemann, Laura Beaufort, Lisa Ferrara, Elizabeth Carey, Melanie Turner, Christina Stanley, Justine Strausser, Nikki Jackowsky, and Lisa Medina placed fourth in its heat with a time of 7:19.74 to advance to the repechage round. Massachusetts won the heat with a time of 6:57.5 followed by Connecticut (7:02.36), Lehigh (7:11.67), Delaware, Marquette (7:36.12), and John Carroll (8:13.0).

In the repechage round, Delaware placed fourth behind Stetson (6:55.74), Temple (6:59.2), and Robert Morris (7:09.02) but did not advance to the semifinals.

AGATE:

Varsity Fours (heat): 1. Lafayette, 7:42.8; 2. Mercyhurst, 8:10.3; 3. Wichita State, 8:22.8; 4. Delaware, 8:40.57.

Varsity Eights (heat): 1. Massachusetts, 6:57.5; 2. Connecticut, 7:02.36; 3. Lehigh, 7:11.67; 4. Delaware, 7:19.74; 5. Marquette, 7:36.17; 6. John Carroll, 8:13.00.

Varsity Eights (repechage): 1. Stetson, 6:55.74; 2. Temple, 6:59.20; 3. Robert Morris, 7:00.00; 4. Delaware, 7:09.02.

Novice Fours: 1. Penn State, 8:10.8; 2. Connecticut, 8:14.66; 3. Fordham, 8:16.21; 4. Delaware, 9:03.18.

Novice Eights: 1. Alabama, 7:11.85; 2. Georgia, 7:11.90; 3. Delaware, 7:18.82; 4. Rochester, 7:20.02; 5. Maryland, 7:28.72; 6. Susquehanna, 7:38.10.

Second Varsity Eights: 1. Buffalo, 6:59.54; 2. Dayton, 7:04.38; 3. Delaware, 7:15.35; 4. Ohio State, 7:19.78; 5. Army, 7:38.02.