University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Auburn
Small Wins 3 Races as Vols Split vs. Auburn
November 11, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Freshman Meghan Small recorded the first career three-win day as the Tennessee women defeated Auburn 171-129 on Friday at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
The Tennessee women took first in 12 of 16 events including both relays. Small won the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.03), 200 backstroke (1:56.01) and 400 individual medley (4:13.65), joining sophomore diver Rachel Rubadue and senior breaststroker Colleen Callahan as multi-event winners.
In the men's meet, the Vols won seven of 16 events in a 162-138 loss to fifth-ranked Auburn.
Sophomore Kyle DeCoursey swept the sprint freestyle events, winning the 50 freestyle in a season-best 19.85 and the 100 freestyle in 44.24. In diving, junior Liam Stone swept the springboard events.
"I thought the competitive spirit we brought during every event from beginning to end was our best this year," Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich said. "When we compete with that attitude as a team, great things happen. We had a few people rise to the occasion and do things they haven't done in season before."
The Tennessee women led off the day with a victory on the 1-meter springboard by Rubadue (272.63) and a victory in the 200 medley relay to lead off the day. The Vols kept the momentum going from there.
Later in the meet, Rubadue also won the 3-meter springboard (295.88). Callahan recorded another two-win day, taking first in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.89) and the 200 breaststroke (2:13.88).
Additional Tennessee winners in the women's meet included Kira Toussaint in the 100 backstroke (53.38), Heather Lundstrom in the 200 butterfly (1:58.87) and Madeline Banic in the 100 butterfly (52.94). The Vols closed the day with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay.
The Vols' distance swimmers led the way on the men's side. Taylor Abbott sparked a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,000 freestyle (9:11.34). Junior Sam McHugh took first in a 1-2-3 finish in the 500 freestyle later in the meet (4:24.56), with Abbott finishing second.
The Tennessee men started the day with a victory in the 200 medley relay. The Vols swam a season-best 1:26.65 with DeCoursey clocking a speedy 18.98 in the final freestyle leg.
INSIDE DIVING: Junior Liam Stone crossed the 400-point barrier on 1-meter diving for the first time in a dual meet this season, scoring 418.80 to win the first competition of the day. He followed up with a winning score of
Sophomore Rachel Rubadue recorded a score of 272.63 to win the 1-meter springboard and then added a victory on 3-meter with a score of 2:13.88.
"From the diving end of things I was very pleased," Tennessee diving coach Dave Parrington said. "Liam was outstanding on 1-meter today. He hit a career high dual meet score on 1-meter and did some big dives that he hasn't done as well as he did today, so that was exciting to see.
"Rachel Rubadue got up and did some really good competing. Emily Pelletier had a fantastic 3-meter performance at a critical time in the meet, so I was very pleased with that. I feel like the divers did a good job in their effort to help the whole swimming and diving team to some good performances overall."
KREDICH QUOTES:
(On the women's meet)
"Kyle DeCoursey's swim on the first relay really set the tone for us. Splitting an 18.9 in season is pretty rare. Matthew Dunphy decided to take a chance in the 200 Breaststroke and really got his team fired up. He finished third, but he did what he felt like he needed to do to win. He took a big chance, and that inspired the team. Taylor Abbott raced like a pro. Our distance men were outstanding as well.
(On the men's meet)
"On the women's side, Colleen Callahan has become a tremendous leader in competitions. She wins, and we always get big swims from her. Meghan Small is finally healthy, and we began to see what she is capable of doing. Alex Cleveland just keeps getting better. She is becoming someone that we lean on. Those are the people who really stood out, but there are another two dozen I could mention."
