Improving its record to 3-0, the Sac State women?s varsity crew team routed visiting Santa Clara in two morning races at the Aquatic Center on Saturday.

The Hornets? varsity eight finished nearly a minute ahead of the Broncos? top squad and placed first with a 6:53 time in the opening 2000 meter race. Santa Clara placed third with a 7:51 time behind Sac State?s second varsity eight, which finished at 7:26.

“We consistently maintained 35 to 36 strokes a minute, despite being slowed by cross-winds and a strong current,” Hornet head coach Bill Zack said. “We could have been five to six seconds faster with better conditions, but the team will continue to improve with every racing opportunity.”

The Sac State varsity four finished first over Santa Clara with a time of 7:52 in the 10:00 a.m. race. The Broncos placed second with an 8:15 time. Hornet varsity four members include Katina Zannakis, Carrie Hagen, Paula Clamurrow, Katie Summy and coxswain Maria Chavez.

“The varsity four involves open-weight rowing. So, using lighter rowers means less weight in the boat to slow it down,” said Zack in explaining his varsity four racing strategy.

Hornet varsity eight members Alicia Weber, Ashley Strachan, Erika Bracy, Veronica Karpinski, Tammy Forbes, Megan Warren, Megan Spitze, stroke Mieke Boynton and coxswain Breanne Hart will race Pac-10 power Stanford in Redwood Shores March 31, before competing in the San Diego Crew Classic April 7 and 8.

Sac State earned an invitation to the prestigious Jessop Whitter Invitational this year in San Diego because they won the San Diego based California Cup last season. The top fourteen collegiate crew programs in the country attend the races in Mission Bay, including Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia, Washington, Oregon and Texas.

“This will be our toughest competition of the season,” Zack said. “That is why I like my team to warm up with a few easier races before we start competing against the best in the nation.”

The Hornets return to Lake Natomas for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships April 28.