LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Jan. 26) – After adding to her record-setting season last week, California University of Pennsylvania sophomore Melissa Gates (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women's Swimmer of the Week on Tuesday announced the league office.

Gates won a combined six events (two individual, four relay) and set five pool records last week in dual meets as the Vulcans posted a 2-1 record with wins over Alaska Fairbanks and Lock Haven.

A 5-9 sophomore, she posted her top performance of the week at Lock Haven when she claimed a victory in the 50 freestyle with a 2010 NCAA Division II Championship “A” automatic qualifying time of 23.71 seconds. Her time of 23.71 seconds set a pool record and ranks among the fastest times in NCAA Division II this year.

Also at Lock Haven, Gates swam the leadoff leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay team in a NCAA “B” provisional qualifying time of 52.28 seconds.

Competing at Hamer Hall against the Nanooks, the Lancaster native broke her own pool record in the 50 freestyle by four-hundredths of a second after touching the wall in 23.71 seconds. She also swam legs on both the winning 400 freestyle (3:37.98) and 400 medley (4:03.40) relay teams against Alaska Fairbanks.

She is the first Vulcan to earn PSAC Swimmer of the Week laurels since teammate Ester Bosch (Barcelona, Spain/ Universidad Ramon Illull) on Nov. 25, 2008.

In all but one meet this year, Gates has either established or tied existing pool records. Last year, she competed in five events at the NCAA Championships and was a member of the All-American 200 freestyle relay team.