University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Have High Goals for NCAA Championships
March 16, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
March 16, 2011
By Todd Mounce, Media Relations Graduate Assistant
AUSTIN, Texas - The ninth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vol swimming and diving team will be well represented at the 2011 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, as eleven swimmers will compete in 17-of-the-18 swimming events over the course of the three day national meet held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the campus of the University of Texas this Thursday through Saturday.
Placing 13th at the NCAA Championships the past two seasons, the Orange and White have positioned themselves to better those finishes as Lady Vol swimmers are seeded in the top 10 in eighth events, including both medley relays and the 400y free relay.
"This meet is just awesome," Lady Vol assistant coach Jennifer Woodruff said. "There is an increased level of excitement because everyone here wants to win. It is a perfect place for our team to have success because they are incredibly competitive."
Competing at the national meet for UT will be seniors Aleksa Akerfelds, Martina Moravcikova and Tricia Weaner, juniors Kirstyn Colonias and Jenny Connolly, sophomores Kelsey Floyd and Brooke Watson and freshmen Alex Frasier, Lindsay Gendron, Mary Kate McNeilis and Lauren Solernou.
Action on all three days will begin with 11 a.m. prelim session, followed by the finals session at 7 p.m. The top eight swimmers in an event from the morning session will be invited to swim in the `A' finals during the night session, while the next eight will compete in the `B' final.
The top eight finishers in each event earn All-America First Team status, while places nine through 16 capture honorable mention All-America accolades.
Connolly is the highest seeded squad member, ranking second in the 100y back and third in the 100y fly. The 10-time All-American will also be an integral part of UT's relays.
Floyd broke the Lady Vol record in the 200y fly this season and ranks fifth in the field in the event. She is also slated to compete in the 100y fly and on relays.
Along with Floyd in the 200y fly will be Watson and Weaner. Watson used a strong effort in the event at the Last Chance Meet to rank 13th nationally and will also compete in the 100y fly. Weaner, a native of Gettysburg, Pa., has earned All-America certificates in relay events and will compete in both fly events along with the 100y back.
Akerfelds and Gendron have proven to be top competitors in distance free events this season, as both are seeded in the top 10 in the mile. Gendron and Akerfelds will both compete in the 500y and 1650y frees, while Gendron will also be in action in the 200y free.
Moravcikova and Colonias have been the top performers in breast events this season for the Lady Vols and will compete in the 100y and 200y events. Moravcikova will also swim legs in both medley relays.
In sprint free events, Frasier will be UT's lone representative in the 100y event and will join Gendron in the 200y free. Frasier was a member of the third place 400y free relay squad at SECs and should see action in the event this weekend.
Newcomers McNeilis and Solernou will compete in both the 100y and 200y back events. Solernou holds the team's best clocking in the 200y event, while McNeilis was a part of the 200y medley and 800y free relay squads that earned bronze at SECs.
"We have been aiming for this meet all year and everything we have learned really comes together in this atmosphere because it is the best of the best in one place," Woodruff said. "It is perfect!"
This will be Tennessee's second trip to The Lonestar State in three years, as Texas A&M hosted the Championships in 2009.
Live results can be found at ncaa.com. ESPN3.com will have live video available during Friday and Saturday evening's sessions beginning at 7 p.m. A tape delay of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Finals can be seen on Tuesday, April 5, at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
For up-to-the-minute info on Tennessee swimmers, go to www.twitter.com/LadyVol_Swim.
