PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (May 13, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's rowing  team's varsity-four boat placed fifth out of five teams in its heat at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia this past weekend.

The boat, which consisted of Jess Whittemore at the stroke, Leah Kaczanowicz (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) at the three, Natasha Pastor (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) at the two, Hayley Brown (Newbury, Mass.) at the bow and Erika Hebert (Leominster, Mass.) as the coxswain, turned in a time of 8:02.944.