No. 11 Virginia Women Defeat No. 13 Lady Vols

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 11th-ranked Virginia women’s swimming and diving team beat No. 13 Tennessee 175.5-124.5 in a dual meet Saturday at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Mei Christensen, Jen Narum and Lauren Perdue were each double-event individual winners for the Orange and Blue.

Virginia improved its dual meet record to 4-1 on the season while the Lady Vols fell to 3-2.

“That was an exceptionally good Tennessee team that we defeated,” head coach Mark Bernardino said. “They swam very well. I like how our women were able to draw something out of themselves. We had to go deep into that emotional and physical well today to be able to compete with a team this solid.”

The Cavaliers started off strong with a victory in the 200 medley relay, finishing in 1:39.77, an NCAA ‘B’ time. Christensen, sophomore Lauren Smart, senior Katherine McDonnell and Perdue comprised the winning squad.

Narum edged out Tennessee’s Alek Akerfelds in the final lap of 1000 free to clock a winning time of 9:52.65. Katya Bachrouche placed third in 10:01.23. Narum, a senior, and Bachrouche, a junior, went on to place 1-2, respectively, in the 500 free. Narum clocked an NCAA ‘B’ time of 4:50.75 while Bachrouche touched in 4:53.68.

Christensen took top honors in the 100 back, finishing in 53.92, while Smart placed second in 54.33. Both were NCAA ‘B’ qualifying standards. Shaw claimed first place in the 200 fly (1:58.36,’B’) while Claire Crippen took second (2:02.05). Shaw and Crippen also went 1-2, respectively, in the 200 IM, with Shaw finishing in a winning time of 2:01.95. Crippen touched at 2:03.10.

Perdue picked up her first individual win of the day in the 50 free (22.55, ‘B’) while teammate Hannah Davis placed third (23.41). Freshman Christine Olson also took top honors in the 200 breast (2:15.16, ‘B’) while Smart placed first in the 100 fly (54.77).

“Lauren Perdue has had a spectacular first year up to this point in time,” Bernardino said. “Liz Shaw continues to swim really well and we had great leadership from our seniors; Kat McDonnell and Jen Narum both had good days.”

Perdue earned her second individual win of the afternoon in the 100 free. She clocked an NCAA ‘B’ time of 49.14, while teammate Kelly Flynn took third (50.61). Christensen then claimed her second individual victory, touching first in the 200 back in 1:56.52, another NCAA ‘B’ standard.

Meredith Perdue led Virginia in the 200 free, finishing second in 1:49.91. McDonnell also paced the Cavaliers in the 100 breast, placing third in 1:03.31.

The Cavaliers finished strong with a win in the 400 freestyle relay, finishing in 3:19.69. Christensen, Flynn, Kristen Moores and Lauren Perdue comprised the victorious squad.

Virginia returns to action in a conference dual meet at Florida State on Thursday, Jan. 14. The meet is scheduled for 3 p.m.