For the No. 17 women's swimming and diving team, Saturday was a day of fun and emotion.

The Lady Lions paid tribute to the eight seniors participating in their final home meet, and then went on to trounce LaSalle, 179.5-104.5. The win was the eighth in row for the team, now 8-1. It was also Penn State's eighth consecutive win at McCoy Natatorium, including a perfect 6-0 mark this season.

The meet though did not only belong to seniors, as 13 members were involved in first-place finishes.

"I think it shows depth and the versatility of some of the kids of the team," Coach Bob Krimmel said. "That was our goal, we did want to get more people involved."

The fact that so many people were involved in the victory may not be surprising. But some of the swimmers not only swam different events, but different strokes. Fran McDermid, usually a freestyler, swam and won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:17.49. Finishing in second was butterfly specialist Jen Baird in 2:19.36.

A new foursome got the team off to a good start in the 200 medley relay. Freshman Amy Weiss teamed with three seniors, Deb Finn, Deb Wilder and Jane Kleiderlein to win the event in 1:52.21. The win started a streak of victories in the first five events.

Fittingly, the seniors led the way. Kleiderlein came back to win the 50 freestyle in 24.72. Co-captains Kristin Lilly and Wilder each won an individual event. Lilly won the 200 freestyle (1:53.19), while Wilder came in first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.36.

"There was no pressure on us," Lilly said. "It was kind of fun not to have to worry about the competition."

Other winners were Baird in the 400 individual medley (4:39.50), Lori Williams in the 100 backstroke (1:01.93), Weiss in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.70), Christy Rourke in the 100 freestyle (53.50), Megan Smothergill in the 500 freestyle (5:10.78) and Deb Albright in the 200 individual medley (2:15.34).

The diving team got back to its winning ways by taking first on both boards. Amy Schmidt won the 1-meter board with a score of 277.13. Lara vonSeelan edged Schmidt on the 3-meter board with a score of 261.96 to Schmidt's 261.30.

"Things have been going a lot better now," Schmidt said. "I'm feeling a lot happier with my dives."

"Our rhythm and timing is back," diving coach Craig Brown added. "I wouldn't want to be any better now than we are, and then lose that edge at Easterns."

One of the fun aspects of the meet took place during the last event. After vonSeelan won the 3-meter board, she took part in the 200 freestyle relay.

"She's getting it out of her system now," Brown said. "She's certainly not in shape to do that kind of thing."

"Traditionally we thought about a meet where we could put the divers in to swim a relay," Krimmel said. "Lara wanted to swim with a senior group."

The Lady Lions continue to roll on their way to Eastrens. They will travel to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday to take on Ohio State.