By Anthony Kuipers, University of Idaho Athletic Media Relations

MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho freshman swimmer Rachel Millet won all three of her individual events, junior Paige Hunt again swept the diving events and junior Kelsie Saxe won twice to help the Vandals overpower their Palouse rival Washington State University, 159.5-134.5, Saturday at the UI Swim Center.

An energetic crowd created a wild atmosphere for the last home meet of the season and the last time Idaho’s five seniors – Savannah Bettis, Calleagh Brown, Katie Hendricks, Si Jia Pang and Chelsey Stanger, performed at Moscow.    

Coach Mark Sowa said it was exciting to beat a Pac-12 team but it was even more important to send the five seniors out with a win.

"More than anything it means so much to have our seniors get a win on their last home meet and to do it in front of such an awesome crowd, that’s what it means,” Sowa said.  “That means everything to us to honor those five seniors.  They’re just tremendous.”

Sowa said he was pleased with how his team handled the raucous crowd.  

“They never wavered,” Sowa said. “They stayed within themselves. They focused on one thing at a time they didn’t get too far ahead of themselves. That stands out, and continues to stand, out to us.”

Millet, who won the 200 freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and 100 yard butterfly, was also a member of the 400 freestyle relay, which helped the Vandals seal the victory. 

“Rachel, for lack of a better word, is a stud,” Sowa said.  “She’s a pleasure to work with.  She’s incredibly humble.  She loves the sport, loves competing day in and day out she is constantly trying to make her teammates better.”

Idaho will compete in the Western Athletic Conference Championship meet Feb. 22 at San Antonio, Texas.