ITHACA, N.Y. – TCNJ's Gabi Valladares put in a solid opening performance at the NCAA Division III Region 4 Diving Championship on Friday night, placing ninth overall on the 1-meter board.

Valladares, fresh off claiming Diver of the Meet honors and winning both boards at the NJAC Championship last weekend, landed in the top half of a field of 22 entrants at Ithaca's Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium. She scored a 383.05 over 11 dives, edging two other divers by less than a point to claim a spot in the top-10.

With seven total slots allocated to Region 4, Valladares goes into Saturday's 3-meter competition with a realistic opportunity to claim a bid to the NCAA Championships.