Fate struck yet another cruel blow to the women's swimming and diving team at the NCAA Championships in a season plagued with sickness and bad luck.

Sophomore freestyler Kristin Lilly was taken to the hospital late Wednesday night with an acute stomach flu which resulted in the team's scratching its first NCAA events last Thursday, the 200-yard medley and the 50 freestyle.

The championships were held last Thursday through Saturday in Indianapolis.

"It (the season) started with sickness, with mono, and continued with the blow to the whole Penn State community with the flu," Coach Bob Krimmel said. "It seems only appropriate that the end of our season would also be tainted with sickness. It was sort of a microcosm of our whole season wrapped into this weekend."

The team of Lilly, Kristen Elias, Beth Haas and Denise Sonntag competed as planned on Friday and Saturday, however, with a 3.53.90 in the 400 medley relay and a 1.35.72 in the 200 freestyle relay. Lilly finished in the 200 freestyle with a 1.52.62 and swam 51.96 in the 100 freestyle. Elias qualified for the 100 and 200 butterflies with a 55.09 and 2.00.90 respectively, then placed 12th in the 100 with a 55.55, and 14th in the 200 with a 2.02.09. That was good enough to earn her All-American honorable mention status.

"I did the best I've ever done at nationals, time-wise," Elias said. "Placewise, I've kind of done the same as I've done every year."

"For her, the meet was overall a good way to end her career," Krimmel said. "She's accomplished what no one before her has. We just hope some people after her can emulate her success."

"I think when it was finally all over, and it was all over is when it hit me," Elias explained. "It's just an empty feeling."

Krimmel estimated that Penn State placed 32nd out of the 57 teams that participated. Stanford University won top team honors overall, breaking a five-year string by the University of Texas. Ironically, former Texas coach Richard Quick now is coaching Stanford and took an overall coaching award. Texas swimmer Leigh Ann Fetters took top honors individually, setting a new NCAA record in the 50 freestyle and guiding two Texas relay teams to record times as well.

Krimmel believes that, in spite of all, this year will serve as motivation to next year's swimmers.

"Hopefully, the winds of fate will blow in our direction," Krimmel said.