Even after swimming and diving defeated Iowa State Nov. 5, the team had little time to relax.

After the meet in Ames, Iowa, the Illini boarded a bus for the 270-mile drive to Lawrence, Kan., where they faced the Jayhawks in Illinois’ second meet of the weekend. The travel was hard on the Illini, who were experiencing their first real away meet of the season.

“I think it definitely is something that we have to work on,” said sophomore Barbie Viney. “We’re going to be doing another double meet in a weekend like that, and it’s something we’re going to have to get used to, that yes we are going to be tired and uncomfortable about being on the bus, but we’re going to have to try and push through that.”

Illinois topped Iowa State 150-91 behind double wins by both Kirsten Koepcke and Viney, but struggled against Kansas.

Koepcke, a freestyler, and Viney, who swims free and fly, lead the Illini so far this season.

Against Iowa State, Koepcke won the 200- and 500-free and was a member of the third place 400-medley relay. Viney topped the 50- and 100-free races, and raced in the 200-free relay, which won first place as well.

“I really liked how I did in my 200-free,” Viney said. “It was the first time in a competition against another school that I swam that this season.”

The next day, Illinois was unable to keep the momentum going and dropped a 185-115 loss to Kansas.

“We went in to Kansas knowing it was going to be very close, head-to-head with the other team,” Viney said. “I think we kept our spirits up very well, considering the driving and everything. We just tried to keep positive attitudes.”

Against Kansas, Koepcke and Viney again led the Illini, as Koepcke took first in the 500- and 1000-free, and Viney finished first in the 100- and 200-free.

Illinois also earned points from senior Trisha Lakatos, who struggled at the beginning of the season, suffering from salmonella poisoning. Against Kansas she placed second in the in the 100- and 200-breast.

“Our breaststroke group is going to be pretty strong,” Novitsky said. “Trisha had some great swims this weekend. She dropped a bunch of time from her previous meets.”

Novitsky said that while the team is relatively young, it has enough energy to make up for its inexperience.

“We have some freshmen who love to race, love to compete,” Novitsky said. “Meghan Bradley, Mallory Craft, they like to get in there and mix it up. I think the best thing is that it’s always somebody different each time. Barbie and Kirsten have been pretty consistent; Kirsten’s starting to bring her times down, but other people have been stepping up throughout the year in other places.”

Craft won the 200-back against Iowa State in 2:06.94 and was second in that race against Kansas. She was also part of the third-place 400-medley relay against the Jayhawks.

“Being the young team that we are, that’s something that’s going to take time,” Novitsky said. “Building that confidence and making sure that they can step through and can compete at that level.”

But Illinois was worn down from traveling and could not earn enough points to secure a win. The meet against Kansas was Illinois’ first loss of the season, moving them to 3-1.

Illinois’ divers finished third and fourth in both the 1- and 3- meter contests at Iowa State. Against Kansas, sophomore Jackie Bain placed fourth in the 1-meter and third in the 3-meter, while freshman Abbey Bernado placed fifth in both the 1- and 3- meter dives.

Diving coach Billy McGowan said that while the divers are struggling now, they are building their strength for later in the season.

“The way the program is designed, with all the weightlifting, all the dry-land and all the diving, their bodies right now are at that point where they’re completely broken down. They can barely walk at this point. And that’s by design, because once they get past that point they start to build up.”

While the first team loss of the season was a sobering reality for the squad, Novitsky said the focus right now is on constantly improving.

“Everything is in line for us to keep putting together those performances,” she said. “It’s like I keep telling them, you want to take another step forward so as we come closer and closer to our end meet it’s just all put together.”