University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Virginia
Tennessee Splits Meet at Virginia
October 16, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The Tennessee swimming and diving team ended its two-day road trip Friday with a split result against Virginia.
The UT men defeated Virginia 210-90 to improve to 3-0 this season. The Tennessee women lost 174-121 and fell to 2-1. Both Tennessee squads were coming off Thursday wins at Missouri.
On Friday, the Vols won 21 of 32 total events. The Tennessee men had comprehensive success in the pool and on the springboards, winning 15 of 16 events.
"The thing that was most impressive with our men today is that we won every close race we were in," Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich said. "We didn't let up even when the meet was in hand. It's a testament of the values of our men's team to get better every day and to compete. We had some great finishes and dominant performances at the beginning."
The diving squad won all four competitions, led by senior Mauricio Robles' pair of victories on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards.
Sophomore Sam McHugh wrapped up a successful weekend of swimming, collecting three more individual victories. The Tennessee native won the 200-yard butterfly (1:47.26), the 500 freestyle (4:27.20) and the 400 individual medley by eight seconds (3:52.39) The wins gave him six total in two meets; he won three races against Missouri (200 fly, 200 free, 200 IM).
In addition to being on two winning relays, senior Sean Lehane took first in the 200 freestyle (1:38.44) and 200 backstroke (1:43.69).
"Sam showed a lot of versatility this weekend," Kredich said. "He had a disappointing summer for him. I was worried about his confidence going it, but he's competing at a high level. It seems like he's on a mission. He and Sean are very driven now. They're competing against good competition and when the race is in hand."
Junior Tyler Mills won his first event in a dual meet, taking the 100 butterfly in 48.68. Sophomore Evan Pinion narrowly missed on a double victory, winning the 1000 freestyle (9:21.91) and getting beat out by less than a second by McHugh in the 500 freestyle.
Freshman Joey Reilman provided a close win in the 100 backstroke.
On the women's side, Tennessee won six events against a Virginia team that placed fifth at NCAAs. Tennessee finished 11th last year.
Seniors Harper Bruens and Faith Johnson notably went 1-2 in the 50 freestyle, with Bruens going under 23 seconds in 22.96.
Tennessee won the final three events of the day, with freshman Madeline Banic winning the 100 butterfly (53.77), senior Lauren Driscoll taking the 400 IM (4:15.91) and UT winning the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.51).
"In most races, we actually swam faster than yesterday," Kredich said. "On the flip side from the men, today we saw how we competed when we were losing. We won the last three events of the meet, and our women did not give up at all against a very good team. We swam with a lot of poise."
On the springboards, Robles scored his first double win day of the season using a standard six-dive list. He took the 1-meter competition in 372.00 and the 3-meter in 389.32. Sophomore Liam Stone finished in second in both events.
Senior Sarah Chewning scored a victory on 1-meter (266.63) and freshman Rachel Rubadue won her first career event on 3 meter (333.98).
"Without exception, everyone turned up their performance from yesterday," diving coach Dave Parrington said. "I'm pleased with Mauricio's double wins and Liam bouncing back after a tough day yesterday. I was proud of Rachel Rubadue getting her first win on 3 meter against a good field. It was nice to see Sara Chewning knocking off the rust a little bit by winning on 1 meter."
Four of six divers competing this week recorded NCAA zone qualifying marks.
