PENNSAUKEN, N.J. -- The Bates women's second varsity eight won its repechage on Friday, and both Bobcat crews advanced to Saturday's grand finals at the NCAA Rowing Championships. 

Led by senior coxswain Isabella Sobolewski (Washington, D.C.) and junior stroke Genesis Bussey (Bronx, N.Y.), the Bates 2V came back with a vengeance after a disappointing morning result, winning the repechage in 7:30.433. Their biggest competition in the afternoon was NESCAC foe Wesleyan, and the Bobcats vanquished the Cardinals by more than 12 seconds while racing against a headwind. 

This came on the heels of a morning heat that saw the Bates 2V place third with a time of 7:28.930, just 0.45 seconds behind Ithaca College. 

"For the first race this morning, we were definitely really nervous," Sobolewski said in a live interview on Instagram after the repechage. "I think the nerves got to us, and we weren't who we are known to be. This afternoon, we made sure we got out ahead early. We executed the race plan exactly as planned, and this win gives us a lot of confidence heading into Saturday's grand final." 

The Bates first varsity eight also finished third in their heat Friday morning, trailing Wellesley and Ithaca with a time of 7:19.440. But the Bobcats bounced back in impressive fashion against a headwind in the afternoon, finishing runner-up to Williams in the repechage in 7:20.762, good for a spot in the grand final.

Saturday's grand finals take place at 10:48am and 11:36am respectively. They can be viewed live on ncaa.com. 

Bates WV8 lineup: Bow: Darya Lee; 2: Hannah Burdick; 3: Josephine Stevens; 4: Molly Connors; 5: Livia Bernhardt; 6: Katarina Dickson; 7: Eliana Weissmann; Stroke: Casey Winter; c: Lucy Del Col

Bates W2V8 lineup: Bow: Hannah de Fontaine; 2: Hope Stamp; 3: Ollie Young; 4: Olivia Szachta; 5: Lauren Cockrill; 6: Quinn Gleason; 7: Lydia Barker; Stroke: Genesis Bussey; c: Isabella Sobolewski

Alternate: Abigail Somosky

Alternate: Eloise Botka

Alternate Cox: Olivia Seline