Nicole Novak and Stacy Bjorlie both won two individual events and were on two winning relays as the Austin girls' swimming and diving team took a 98-83 Big Nine Conference dual from host Mankato East Thursday night.

Novak swam to victory in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, while Bjorlie was first to the wall in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Briana Walsh won the 100 backstroke and Cassie Srock won the 100 breaststroke, and the Packers dominated all three relay races.

Austin won nine of 12 events to move to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Nine.

"The fact that we knew Mankato East was out to beat us really helped us push ourselves tonight," Bjorlie said. "We've been a little bit shaky in our confidence level because of the temporary loss of some of our top competitors. This meet really brought us back up to where we need to be."

Austin swam this meet without top sprinter Lauren Goettsch, long-distance freestyler Lindsay Lukes, and senior specialist Meghan Walsh. Walsh suffered a shoulder injury in the Packers' season-opening loss to Lakeville and has not yet been back in the lineup.

The Pack has managed since the loss, going 2-1 with the only loss coming to defending conference champion Faribault.

"Everyone did well tonight, I'm really proud of how well the team pulled together," Briana Walsh said. Walsh won the 100 backstroke in leading a trio of Packers to a sweep of the event. Beth Goskesen and Janine Davis put Austin over the points limit with a 98-59 lead with two events remaining.

Austin takes a break from Big Nine action with a trip to Charles City Monday. The Packers take on a double-dual including Decorah starting at 6 p.m. AHS hosts Owatonna next Thursday.

Results:

(Winners and Austin placewinners)

200 medley relay -- 1. Austin (Goskesen, Srock, Novak, Martin) 2:07.18, 2. Austin (Walsh, VanProosdy, Farrell, Snyder) 2:13.96; 200 freestyle -- 1. Stacy Bjorlie (A) 2:08.52, 2. Chrissy Srock (A) 2:13.02, 5. Zrucky (A) 2:21.19; 200 individual medley -- 1. Nicole Novak (A) 2:32.45, 2. Briana Walsh (A) 2:36.01, 5. Emily Wermager (A) 2:47.95; 50 freestyle -- 1. Westendorf (ME) 26.96, 2. Amanda Martin (A) 27.32, 3. Amy VanProosdy (A) 28.99.

Diving -- 1. Schlingmann (ME) 212.95, 2. Danielle Chapek (A) 198.40, 3. Jori Baldus (A) 140.15; 100 butterfly -- 1. Novak (A) 1:07.70, 2. Cassie Srock (A) 1:12.18, 5. Wermager (A) 1:23.81; 100 freestyle -- 1. Westendorf (ME) 59.01, 2. Martin (A) 59.12, 5. Jennifer Snyder (A) 1:04.86; 500 freestyle -- 1. Bjorlie (A) 5:45.39, 2. Ch.Srock (A) 5:50.33, 5. Nicole Peterson (A) 6:37.47.

200 freestyle relay -- 1. Austin (Martin, Srock, Srock, Bjorlie) 1:51.29, 3. Austin (VanProosdy, Farrell, Snyder, Zrucky) 1:58.21; 100 backstroke -- 1. Walsh (A) 1:11.40, 2. Beth Goskesen (A) 1:11.84, 3. Janine Davis (A) 1:12.01; 100 breaststroke -- 1. Ca.Srock (A) 1:19.27, 3. Stephanie Gorman (A) 1:26.64; 400 freestyle relay -- 1. Austin (Bjorlie, Ch.Srock, Novak, Goskesen) 4:07.35, 3. Austin (Walsh, Zrucky, Temperly, Davis) 4:29.78.