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Virginia Returns to the Pool, Hosts Tennessee Saturday
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams return to the pool Saturday and host nationally-ranked Tennessee in a dual meet at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The men’s meet will begin at noon with the women to follow at approximately 3 p.m. Live results will be available on VirginiaSports.com.
A free fan fest for kids will be held in the AFC gymnasium from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will feature a bounce house, target toss, face painting and prize drawings. Admission to the swimming and diving meet is also free.
The Tennessee men’s team is currently ranked 11th in the latest CSCAA poll, two spots behind the ninth-ranked Cavaliers. The Lady Vols are ranked 13th behind the 11th-ranked Virginia women.
“We are really excited to have the Tennessee women on our schedule,” said UVa head coach Mark Bernardino. “This is something we have been trying to put together for the last five or six years. They are certainly a quality team. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to compete against another top-15 team and this is the kind of team that will present a challenge in almost every event.”
The Cavalier women (3-1 in dual meets) boast seven individuals who have the ACC’s fastest times to date, including Lauren Perdue in the 50 (22.51), 100 (49.08) and 200 (1:46.34) freestyle events; Jen Narum in the 500 free (4:46.05); Mei Christensen in the 100 (53.09) and 200 back (1:55.11); Lauren Smart in the 100 fly (53.92); Liz Shaw in the 200 fly (1:56.84); Katherine McDonnell in the 200 IM (2:00.96) and Claire Crippen in the 400 IM (4:11.20). Additionally, four of the five relay squads have posted the fastest times in the conference through the first half of the season.
The Tennessee women are 3-1 in dual meets this season with victories over LSU, Kentucky and South Carolina and their lone loss to cross-state rival Louisville. The Lady Volunteers have been off since competing in the Tennessee Invitational Nov. 19-21, where they took third behind Kentucky and Virginia Tech.
“On the men’s side, we schedule Tennessee because they are historically one of the top-8 teams in the country year-in and year-out,” Bernardino continued. “They are a formidable foe and always come ready to swim and compete hard. In the meets we have had with Tennessee, many of them have come down to the last relay. This should be another close and exciting meet.”
The Virginia men, also 3-1 in dual meets this year, are represented by Scot Robison and Matt McLean at the top of the conference’s most recent top times list. Robison has the fastest time in the 100 free (44.26) while McLean is the current leader in the 200 free (1:36.62). Additionally, the Cavaliers have the best time in the ACC in the 400 free relay (2:59.72) to date and rank second in the 200 free, 800 free and 200 medley relays.
Tennessee is undefeated in dual meets this year with an unblemished 4-0 record, including wins over LSU, Louisville, Kentucky and South Carolina. The Volunteers took first-place honors (defeating Kentucky, Alabama and Virginia Tech) at the Tennessee Invitational Nov. 19-21.