This afternoon's meet pitting the 12th-ranked Virginia men's swimming and diving team against 11th-ranked Tennessee has been pegged as the national "meet of the week" by swimmingworldmagazine.com.
"We have a tremendous opponent in Tennessee," Virginia coach Mark Bernardino said. "We like to schedule teams that are in the top 10 in the country and we like to see them early in the season. I want to introduce our team to great swimming, great athletes and to schools that have a history of bringing in some of the best international athletes."
The Volunteers arrive in Charlottesville riding a wave of momentum after upsetting second-ranked Auburn two weeks ago. Tennessee beat the defending national champions handedly 170-127.
"Tennessee is the first team since 1996 to beat Auburn in an SCC dual meet," Bernardino said. "Auburn was the five-time defending national champion, and Tennessee knocked them off. That is an incredible accomplishment; that's how good this Tennessee team is."
The Cavaliers themselves are coming off a confidence-boosting weekend at State College, Pa., where they defeated Big Ten rivals Penn State and Michigan State to return home with a 4-1 season record.
Last year in Knoxville, Tenn. the Cavaliers fell to the Tigers by a narrow margin, 134-109. Swimming at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, Virginia hopes to use its home-pool advantage and team camaraderie to exact revenge for last year's loss.
"Especially during meets everyone is encouraging everyone else, and you feel like you are part of a team," freshman Taylor Smith said. "Even though it is kind of an individual sport, you feel like you are working for the team not just for yourself, and I find that really enjoyable."
Leading the Tennessee squad are seniors Octavio Alesi and Michael Wolfe. Alesi is currently undefeated this season in every dual meet event he has entered. Today he will look to place first in the shorter free and fly events.
Tennessee's Wolfe was recently named National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by collegeswimming.com for his performances in the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly. He has also already qualified for the upcoming Olympic trials in the 100 and 200 backstrokes and butterflies.
"Historically speaking we have done very well against them in the distance races," Bernardino said. "And we have competed very well with them, though not always winning, in the 200 strokes."
Virginia's powerhouses are considerably younger but have already proven they are not easily intimidated. Last weekend, Smith once again dominated the 1000 free event.
Posting a time of 9:16.20 against Clemson, Smith will go up against Tennessee's Geoff Sanders, who swam the event in 9:16.06 against Auburn.
"In the distance races you can change your race strategy and do some things relative to how you know your opponent likes to race," Bernardino said. "I think there's a bit of familiarity with those two athletes, and that is going to be one of the really good races of the meet tomorrow: Smith and Sanders"
Read More
Virginia baseball’s breakup is painful, in more ways than one
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayAfter 22 years, Brian O'Connor is leaving Virginia baseball.
New era, same fight: Virginia rowing finishes 10th at NCAAs
By Eleanor Lynch | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers made significant strides in 2025.
Select Cavaliers advance to NCAA Championships
By Caroline Wulff | 4 days agoVirginia's stars finished within the qualifying zone at the East Regionals.
