LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Northern Arizona's diving trio at the Bruin Diving Invitational made the most of their second opportunity to compete on platform to close the three-day invite on Sunday. The Lumberjack contingent was once again led by junior Tatiana Kurach, while junior Olivia Payne and freshman Jenny Cheetham totaled season-best scores.
 
"I was really proud of each of them," said diving coach Nikki Huffman. "Jenny did the best she's ever done and Tatiana and Olivia were really solid. They both had a couple of really good dives and some areas that could've been a little better. Overall, it was a very solid day."
 
Kurach, who recorded team-best eighth-place finishes on both springboards during the first two days of competition, notched a 17th-place finish on platform. Kurach totaled a score of 209.20 and was part of a group of five divers who were all within five points of the making the top 12 final.
 
Payne posted a career-best platform score of 195.35 that earned her 24th overall. Cheetham improved upon her platform score from November by placing 40th with a point total of 170.40.
 
For all three divers, Sunday marked just their second appearance on platform this season following their season debuts on the tower during their home Lumberjack Diving Invitational in November.
 
Overall, the weekend was an encouraging one for all three Lumberjacks against a talented field from schools throughout the West.
 
"Overall, we were really good," Huffman said. "Tati was the best on springboard, but Olivia was probably more consistent in all three events. Jenny had a couple of rough days on springboard, but came back and shined on platform."
 
The three divers will rejoin the team for NAU's final dual meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 27. The Lumberjacks will host Boise State, the defending Mountain West Champions, at 11 a.m. in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex.