The LSU women’s swimming squad opened Southeastern Conference competition on the road Tuesday, securing a 181-80 victory against Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-1 SEC) in Nashville, Tenn.

LSU coach Dave Geyer said the Lady Tigers did what they needed to do to win but left room for improvement as they won 11 of 14 total events.

“There are some areas where we’re just in a weird phase with training right now where we weren’t as fast,” Geyer said. “Just a little rough I guess is the best way to describe it.”

Geyer said LSU (2-0, 1-0 SEC) will need to raise the bar heading into an Oct. 20 dual meet at Auburn, but he said there are definite positives to be taken from Tuesday’s conference meet.

Sophomore Amber Carter notched a pair of victories with first-place swims in the 100-yard freestyle (51.61) and in the 100-yard butterfly (55.59).

“[The events] were about 15 to 20 minutes apart, and those are two tough races to swim back-to-back,” Geyer said. “She looks really sharp in the water right now which is obviously exciting for us.”

Geyer said he spoke with the Lady Tigers prior to the meet about making sure to compete at their best, rather than try to match the level of the competition. Vanderbilt finished last season ranked No. 10 in the SEC, while LSU finished at No. 5.

“We came out a little bit flat starting out, but we worked through that and finished out the meet well,” Geyer said. “A win’s a win at the end of the day.”

Junior Torrey Bussey finished first in the 200-yard individual medley and placed second in the 200-yard breaststroke.

“I think [Bussey] was a little frustrated getting second place in that, but to be at [2:17.69], this is probably the earliest she has been this fast throughout her career so far,” Geyer said.

Senior Sara Haley won the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.77), an event for which she is the current LSU program record holder (1:56.67), and junior Rainey White won the 50-yard freestyle (24.06).

Freshman Megan Cox swam to a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.85.

The Lady Tigers also swept the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Geyer said the away meet afforded LSU the opportunity to gain experience that will be vital to the squad’s success later in the season.

“It’s an occasion when the women can get the experience of going on the road the day before the meet and making sure we’re taking care of ourselves and coming out and competing the next day,” Geyer said. “We’re going to have to do the same thing next week.”