PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Marietta College women's rowing team advanced both of its boats to the Grand Final of the 75th annual Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Friday (May 11) morning on the Schuylkill River. [Results]

The varsity 8+ shell won its heat easily Friday morning, while the second varsity 8+ finished second in its heat. Both crews are competing in the women's varsity heavyweight division and will compete side by side in Saturday's final.

“Both crews are excited to race each other,” said Marietta Head Coach Kelly Harris. “We hope to represent Marietta College well on the water tomorrow.”

The varsity 8+ shell pulled away from the field early and cruised to an easy victory in the morning heat. The Pioneers crossed the line in 7:03.697 on the 2,000-meter course nearly 30 seconds ahead of its closest competitor.

The defending Dad Vail champions, the Pioneers conserved energy over the final 1,000-meters in preparation for Saturday's final. Vassar was second in the heat followed by North park and Mary Washington.

“We were able to shut down our race plan at the midpoint of the course,” Harris said. “We have been improving every race this spring and are very much looking forward to defending our gold medal tomorrow.”

Marietta's lineup for the varsity includes coxswain #Megan Oxley (Clarksburg, N.J./Allentown)#, #Abigail Klicker (Avalon Borough, Pa./Northgate)# in the stroke seat, #Hailey Ellis (New Albany/New Albany)#, #Kelli Barnette (Parkersburg, W.Va./South)#, #April Pendergrass (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson)#, #Ricci Davis (Marietta/Marietta)#, #Trisha Wendel (Chagrin Falls/Kenston)#, #Bridget Dean (Rochester, Minn./Mayo)# and #Alyse McNeill (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area)# in the bow.

Rochester's first varsity shell edged the Pioneers' second varsity 8+ boat by three seconds in Friday's heat. Marietta posted a time of 7:05.725 just behind Rochester's 7:02.994.

“The second varsity eight rowed very well,” Harris said. “We have identified the areas where we can gain speed for tomorrow's final. They are very excited to be racing in the varsity eight category and have their sights set on a medal.”

Coxswain #Laura Sterzinger (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic)#, stroke # Taryn Wilson (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa)#, #Alycia Kime (Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow Township)#, #Kelly Moses (Lyndhurst/Brush)#, #Stephanie Meinert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel Area)#, #Erika Gill (Copley/Copley)#, #Shannon Johnston (Arlington, Va./Yorktown)#, #Katherine Tedesco (Upper Arlington/Upper Arlington)# and #Hannah Platt (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman)# in the bow seat will fill the second varsity 8+ shell.

The lane assignments for Saturday's Grand Final will have North Park in lane one, Marietta's second varsity 8+ in lane two, the Pioneers' first varsity 8+ in three, Rochester in lane four, Vassar in five and Emory in lane six.

The Grand Final is schedule for 4:15 p.m. and can be watched live on the internet at http://6ABC.com/ESPN3.com.