University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vol Divers Set to Open SEC Championships
February 10, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 10, 2011
By Todd Mounce, Media Relations Graduate Assistant
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The dual meet season is complete and the ninth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vol swimming and diving team is ready to compete for a conference title this season at the Southeastern Conference Championships at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.
Featuring a different format than in years past, this year the divers will kick off the conference championships over Feb. 11-13, while the swimmers will take their turn from Feb. 16-19.
The Big Orange (5-2, 2-2 SEC) is returning to Gainesville after dropping its final dual meet to eighth-ranked Florida on Jan. 29. Despite the outcome, the Lady Vols captured six individual events and a relay against UF.
"We have been fortune to go against most of the squads in the season thus far, so that helps the divers prepare mentally because they pretty well know what they are up against," said UT Head Diving Coach Dave Parrington. "We fared fairly well so that certainly gives them a good amount of confidence."
Junior Gabrielle Trudeau has been the top diver for the Orange and White this season, earning NCAA zone scores on both boards and the platform. The Montreal, Canada, native has also been tabbed SEC Diver of the Week on two occasions throughout the season.
Also competing for UT will be senior Jill Pierce and sophomore Skye Sanders. Pierce recorded a zone score on the platform, while Sanders just missed earning zone scores on the 3-meter and platform.
At the start of the season there were six divers on the roster, but injuries and a retirement cut the group in half. However, all three of the active divers have set career-bests scores in multiple events.
"With Gaby, Jill and Skye going to the conference meet, those three have been tough all year long," Parrington said. "Gaby has fared pretty well against all of the conference foes and I'm expecting outstanding performances from Jill and Skye. "
The women's 3-meter prelims will be the first event for the Lady Vols, as it is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, with the finals to follow at 6 p.m. Saturday the women will be on the 1-meter and will take to the towers on Sunday.
The official website for the Championships is www.gatorzone.com.
