CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Queens came into the day looking to show they belong and they did just that. After qualifying 24 swimmers for finals, they'd go on to take first in four individual events as well as the men's 200 medley relay, setting records in both the men's 50 free and the men's 200 medley relay. 

Through the first day of competition, both the men's and women's sides sit atop the standings. The men's team holds the top spot with 195 points, while the women's side possesses 315 points at the conclusion of day one.  

Luke Erwee started the finals the same way he started prelims, touching the wall ahead of the rest with a time of 4:24.03 in the 500 freestyle. Teammate Matt Shanahan earned a third-place finish in the event at 4:29.16.

Sophia Lange followed suit as she'd take first in the 500 free yet again at 4:47.68. Also earning points was Katherine Bailey who placed third with a time of 4:51.09.

In the men's 200 IM, Alex Kunert helped make it three in a row for the Royals as his 1:44.67 time would take first, followed by Balazs Berecz who came in second at 1:46.15.

Matej Dusa, who seems to only get better, broke the record in the finals of the 50 free after previously breaking in the morning prelims session. His time of 19.20 now sits as the top time in the event, as he dashed to a first-place finish. Daniel Meszaros was closed behind in third at 19.94. Finn Howard also found himself in the top-five, coming in at 20.12 which put him in fourth place.

Each of the A-cut swimmers in the women's 50 free would find themselves in the top-10 in finals, led by Danielle Melilli who narrowly missed first place by .02 seconds, touching the wall second at 22.09. Monica Gumina earned a fifth-place finish with a time of 22.76, followed by Ryley Heck in sixth right behind her at 22.78.

The second record of the day was set in the men's 200 medley relay, as the quartet of Matej Dusa, Balazs Berecz, Conner Wang, and Alexander Bauch dashed to a record-setting time of 1:25.39 to take first in the event.

The women's relay squad of Caroline Lawrence, Annika Huber, Sophia Lange, and Danielle Melilli earned a second-place finish finishing at 1:39.30.

COACH'S WORDS
"The team found its rhythm tonight" said head coach Jeff Dugdale. "Our vision is to build leaders for life and tonight our leaders learned how to perform on demand and deliver results. Tonight they gained valuable experiences that will translate to the real world."

DAY ONE MEN'S STANDINGS (TOP-THREE)

1. Queens - 195
2. Florida Atlantic - 190.5
3. Gardner-Webb - 116

DAY ONE WOMEN'S STANDINGS (TOP-FIVE)

1. Queens - 315
2. Liberty - 256
3. James Madison - 255
4. UNC-Asheville - 183
5. Florida Gulf Coast - 151

TOP-10 FINALS FINISHERS

MEN'S 500 FREE - Luke Erwee (1st, 4:24.03), Matt Shanahan (3rd, 4:29.16)
WOMEN'S 500 FREE - Sophie Lange (1st, 4:47.68), Katherine Bailey (3rd, 4:51.09), Rebecca Dany (7th, 4:57.39)
MEN'S 200 IM - Alex Kunert (1st, 1:44.67), Balazs Berecz (2nd, 1:46.15)
WOMEN'S 200 IM - Tova Andersson (4th, 2:02.14), Annika Huber (7th, 2:03.04)
MEN'S 50 FREE - Matej Dusa (1st, 19.20), Daniel Meszaros (3rd, 19.94), Finn Howard (4th, 20.12), Conner Wang (6th, 20.49)
WOMEN'S 50 FREE - Danielle Melilli (2nd, 22.09), Monica Gumina (5th, 22.76), Ryley Heck (6th, 22.78)