After splitting with conference rival North Carolina last week, the Virginia swimming and diving teams hope to push on towards the postseason with a dual meet tomorrow against Duke at 1 p.m. at the Aquatic & Fitness Center.
"Our basic goal is to try to continue on our performances thus far," Cavalier coach Mark Bernardino said. "This match gives us the opportunity to do some hard work this week and gives us some final touches on our training prior to the ACC Championships" in late February.
Led by tri-captain Jamie Grimes and reigning ACC Swimmer of the Week Luke Anderson, the No. 11 Virginia men (5-1, 3-0 ACC) hope to carry the momentum from their undefeated opening streak into the meet against unranked Duke (4-2, 0-1).
"Duke is an up-and-coming program and is getting better every year," Grimes said. "[Our] team has really bonded as a unit and prepared for this meet."
The Blue Devils, whom the Cavs handled easily last season, 113-78, have won their last three meets. Duke freshman Travis French, who won two races against William & Mary, is one of Duke's potent weapons.
"Duke is a much improved team this year," Bernardino said. "I think we are deeper than Duke and we are in the hunt for a conference championship and an NCAA top-15 finish."
The 12th-ranked Virginia women (5-1, 2-1) face the Blue Devils (5-1, 0-1) still sore from a 175-125 loss to UNC. The Cavaliers lost four races by a combined 1.2 seconds against the Tar Heels, a squad Bernardino called "as fine a team as has ever swum in the ACC."
"I think we are going to rebound from the match against UNC," Bernardino said. "We had not lost a dual meet for three years and I expect our women are anxious to bounce back onto a winning streak."
Virginia will rely on freshman Amy Baly and sophomore Cara Lane and Mirjana Bosevska. Last year the Cav women defeated Duke 123-90.
Instead of the normal 13-event meet, tomorrow will feature 16 events.
"It lets us get a look at a lot more of our people," Bernardino said. "We want to see how everyone will perform at an ACC level at their second and third events"
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