Through the practice season, Marsden has been pleasantly surprised with the work done by juniors Jessica Duke of Sandy and Katie Kivisto, who have each had difficulty making the lineups at times. "They have really accepted the challenge of coming back knowing they had to step up and do a great job for us with all the freshmen we have. They are so much better," he said.

"I really wanted to be in as much of the lineup as I could. I tried that last year," said Duke, who showed well in most of her events Friday. "I just really want it."

DiLuzio said her first experience on the Huntsman floor "was amazing. It seems like it has taken so long to get here. Just being in here with all the people and getting used to the equipment was really nice."

She said she and the other freshmen all felt some nerves, "but I think I got most of them out tonight," which is part of the idea. Her freshman teammates "were all smiling. In the beginning, they were a little bit looking scared, but toward the end, everybody was smiling and looking like they were having a good time."

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