UT Women Sweep, Men Split in Indiana/Kentucky Meet

Friday, October 27

Knoxville, TN

11:00 AM

University of Tennessee

Kentucky

October 27, 2017 | Swimming & Diving

Photo Gallery Complete Results

Knoxville, Tenn. — The Tennessee women swept and the men split in a double dual meet against Indiana and Kentucky on Friday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

With five event victories and plenty of second- and third-place finishes throughout the meet, the Tennessee women (4-1, 1-1 SEC) defeated Indiana 166-134 and Kentucky 170-130. The Tennessee men (4-1, 2-0 SEC) beat Kentucky 216-84 but lost to top-ranked Indiana 165-135.

Sophomore Erika Brown led the way for the Lady Vols on Friday, winning the 50-yard freestyle (22.65 seconds) and the 100 butterfly (52.61). She also took second in the 100 freestyle, which was won by sophomore teammate Stanzi Moseley (49.35).

On the women's side, Tennessee also got victories from Ana Celaya Hernandez on 3-meter springboard (316.30) and the 400 freestyle relay team in 3:20.85.

The Vols won four events on the men's side, highlighted by a two-win day by sophomore Taylor Abbott. Abbott swept the distance races, taking first in the 1000 freestyle (9:07.14) and the 500 freestyle (4:25.63).

The Vols' team of Braga Verhage, Peter John Stevens, Ryan Coetzee and Kyle DeCoursey opened the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay (1:26.22), just beating out Indiana at the wall.

Tennessee also got individual victories from junior Matthew Dunphy in the 200 breaststroke (1:59.45) in a close race against Ian Finnerty and redshirt junior Colin Zeng on the 1-meter springboard (414.35). Senior Sam McHugh took three second-place finishes in the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke and 200 IM.

INSIDE DIVING: The men's diving competition featured three NCAA champions and two Olympians. Junior Colin Zeng recorded his second 400-point score of the season, placing second in the 3-meter springboard in 400.70. NCAA champion and U.S. Olympian Michael Hixon won in 400.70.

Zeng took first over Hixon in the 1-meter springboard (414.35).

Freshman Ana Celaya Hernandez earned her first college win in the women's 3-meter (316.30). In the women's 1-meter, Hernandez was second and Rachel Rubadue was third.

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to the road for a dual meet at Louisville on Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern.

QUOTES

Head Coach Matt Kredich

(Opening Statement)
"If I look at the whole picture, we took some big steps forward today. Especially when we lose a close meet, it's easily to look at places where we could have done better and that's one of the benefits of competition. We definitely see some places where we could have been better. I really like the identity of our team and how it's grown into a strong, whole group idea of being a team of competitors. We don't back off. We win close races and we're starting to show some depth too. That's a change especially for our men's team but I'm also seeing it on the women's side too. We're having a lot of young people step into leadership roles and even people like Matthew Dunphy when he took on a big 200 breaststrokers and he showed a lot of heart and won that race."

(On Erika Brown and Taylor Abbott's two-win days)
"They've both stepped up this year and become really aggressive competitors. Erika continues to be someone we rely on in races. The 50 free. The 100 free. She's developing into an extraordinary sprinter. Taylor appears to be on a mission as well this season. He learns from every race. You can see him getting better every week both in training and in meets.

Diving Coach Dave Parrington

(On men's events)
"First of all, the men's 1-meter was a really good event. It was good to see Colin step up and win against a phenomenal field of divers. There were four guys in that event were top eight at NCAAs in the finals. Just to see them lift their competitive edges. Liam had a tough one. He threw two dives we haven't gotten off until today. He was feeling it a little bit and those were the two dives he happened to miss. Colin's victory was fantastic. Same on 3-meter. Some really good stuff. He didn't get the win but it was a really good event. Our young guys did some good stuff. It was good to see Will Hallam in his first competition for the University of Tennessee.

(On Hernandez' first college win)
"I would describe this as a breakout day for her. As a freshman, she had a tough opening meet at Auburn on the road. She came back and has worked diligently on her mental game, working with Dr. (Joe) Whitney. She was extremely composed today. … Rachel had a really strong day. She was second on 1-meter and third on 3-meter.