WORCESTER, Mass. -- The No. 5 nationally ranked Bates women's rowing team continued their early-season success Sunday with the first varsity eight taking home first place in both their heat and their grand final on Lake Quinsigamond, taking down No. 4 Trinity along the way.

Led by first-year coxswain Hannah Herbst (Larkspur, Calif.) and senior captain stroke seat Hannah Burdick (Lyme, N.H.) the 1V won their heat and then took first place over the Bantams, No. 12 William Smith, No. 9 WPI, and No. 8 Wellesley in the grand final, racing to the finish in 6:43.4. Trinity was the runner-up in 6:47.76. It's the second straight day the Bobcats have outraced a school ranked ahead of them in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association coaches poll, after having earned a win on the Malden River over No. 1 Tufts on Saturday.

"We're really pleased with how all the crews responded to the circumstances, the conditions and the pressures of top-level competition this weekend," head coach Peter Steenstra said. "The WV8 has upended the D3 world by defeating the No. 1 and No. 4 ranked teams in Tufts and Trinity while fighting off the up-and-coming program from William Smith."

All three Bates crews won their heats on Sunday, with the third varsity eight getting things started with a first-place finish over Wellesley and No. 14 Hamilton with a time of 7:21.9. The Blue took second in 7:28.56. 

Led by first-year coxswain Shoshana Levy (Arlington, Va.) and sophomore stroke seat Charlotte Comrack (Washington, D.C.), the 3V took home first place in their grand final as well, outracing Trinity, Wellesley, William Smith, and WPI in 7:12.5. Trinity finished second in 7:14.57.

The second varsity eight followed the 3V with a win in their heat. Led by first-year coxswain Leah Brody (Larchmont, N.Y.) and senior captain stroke seat Rylee Eaton (Little Deer Isle, Maine), the Bobcats crossed the finish line in 7:05.3, defeating Wellesley, Hamilton, and Clark. The 2V went on to take second place to Trinity in their grand final, racing to the finish in 7:01.49, six seconds behind the Bantams (6:55.4) and well-ahead of William Smith, WPI, and Wellesley.

The women's fourth varsity eight competed in just one race on Sunday, taking on Trinity and Wellesley. Led by first-year coxswain Sara Maquera (Glenview, Ill.) and first-year stroke seat Virginia Adams (Hanover, N.H.), the Bobcats won the race in 7:23.4, with Trinity taking second in 7:30.52 and Wellesley in third in 7:39.18.

Bates is back in action this Saturday when the Bobcats compete in the New York State Collegiate Championship Regatta.

Bates WV8 lineup: Bow: Cal Dagner; 2: Tatum Holley; 3: Isabelle Martin; 4: Maggie Gill; 5: Quinn Gleason; 6: Olivia Szachta; 7: Olivia Smith; Stroke: Hannah Burdick; c: Hannah Herbst

Bates W2V8 lineup: Bow: Maddie Kemp; 2: Mia Senturk; 3: Hannah de Fontaine 4: Kiki Hillery; 5: Megan O'Donnell; 6: Greta Oberdiek; 7: Elizabeth Gramley; Stroke: Rylee Eaton; c: Leah Brody

Bates W3V8 lineup: Bow: Kat O'Connell; 2: Evie Fox; 3: Mackenzie Higgins; 4:Arden Minor; 5: Froney Dreher; 6: Julia Buzacott; 7: Caitlin Regan; Stroke: Charlotte Comrack; c: Shoshana Levy

Bates W4V8 lineup: Bow: Olivia Hill; 2: Taylor Glick; 3: Merrill Doherty; 4: Noa Hart; 5: Eva Calcutt; 6: Dominique Bunnell; 7: Alexa Terry; Stroke: Virginia Adams; c: Sara Maquera