Vols and Lady Vols Cap Regular Season with Commanding Dual Meet Victories over Duke

Nick Simons and Mac Clark Celebrate Following Victory in Dual Meet Against Duke

Vols and Lady Vols Cap Regular Season with Commanding Dual Meet Victories over Duke

January 30, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The #8/#11 Tennessee swimming and diving team put up a dominating performance in its final dual meet of the regular season as it hosted Duke. The Lady Vols earned a 184-110 in their dual meet over the Blue Devils, while the Vols defeated Duke by a score of 198-88. The teams controlled the meet from start to finish, evident by winning a combined 25 of the 32 events on the day.

The final meet of the regular season also served as the team's senior day, as the program honored eight student-athletes that had remarkable influence on the program throughout their collegiate career. Julia Burroughs, Gui Caribe, Bailey Davenport, Martin Espernberger, Regan Rathwell, Owen Redfearn, Nick Simons, and Nick Stone weere each honored at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on the afternoon, each leaving their own last legacy on the history of the program.

Ella Jansen put up another phenomenal outing at the pool for the Lady Vols. Jansen was a part of three wins for the Lady Vols. Jansen got her individual day started by taking the win in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:52.88. The mark for Jansen moved her up the record books in Tennessee history, sitting third in the event. Jansen followed it up with a huge win in the 400 IM, winning the event by nearly three seconds over second place. She was followed in the event by Emily Brown, who clocked a time of 4:05.45. The duo had a huge finish for the Lady Vols in the event, with the next closest competitor in third place finishing nearly nine seconds behind Brown in second place. Brown added a win of her own in the 200 Free, touching the wall with a time of 1:45.18

Camille Spink continued her strong season for Tennessee, notching a pair of wins in the dual. Spink picked up wins in the 50 free and the 100 Free. Spink entered the meet ranked fourth collegiately in the 50 Free, and continued her dominance in the event with a time of 21.52. This marks the fifth win in the event this campaign for Spink, who has won all but one of her contests in the 50 Free. The junior has been equally as dominant this year in the 100 Free, with the win this afternoon marked as her eighth on the year.

Mizuki Hirai competed in just her second meet for her collegiate career, but added her second win in as many competitions. Hirai took first in the 100 Fly, the second consecutive win in the event for the freshman. Nicole Zettel and Avery Luedke each took wins in the distance freestyle for the Lady Vols. The duo went 1-2 in the 500 Free, with Zettel earning her first collegiate win. Luedke had the advantage for Tennessee in the 1650 Free, picking up her first win of her collegiate career as well and finishing nearly a minute ahead of second place with a time of 16.36.44. Emma Rhines got the win for Tennessee in the 1-Meter, adding a third place finish in the 3-Meter. Lynae Shorter had pair of podium finishes as well, placing second in the 3-Meter and third in the 1-Meter competitions.

Bennett Greene continued his form on the diving side for the Vols, sweeping both the 1-Meter and 3-Meter events. Greene climbed up the charts in program history in the 3-Meter, posting the eighth-best score in the event of 432.55. Owen Redfearn and Nick Stone each earned podium finishes for Tennessee in the meet. Redfearn logged a second place finish in the 3-Meter, and added to his day with third in the 1-Meter. Stone placed second for the Big Orange in the 1-Meter, his third top three finish in the event this season.

Gui Caribe dazzled in the pool for Tennessee, with wins in both the 50 Free and 100 Fly. Caribe continued his preeminence in sprint free, notching his seventh consecutive win this season in the 50 Free. Freshman Mac Clark led the way in the distance events for Tennessee, with wins in both the 500 and 1650 Free. The wins were the first in the collegiate career of Clark, with season-best times in both the 500 Free (4:25.00) and 1650 Free (15:13.83).

Ben Bricca had a strong day for the Vols, with the sophomore tallying wins in both the 100 and 200 Back. Koby Bujak-Upton took home first in the 100 and 200 Free, his first win in the 100 Free this year, while continuing his run of form in the 200 Free. Gabe Nunziata took another win for Tennessee in the 200 Breast, marking back-to-back wins in the event after doing so against Georgia last week. Anthony Laurito added another win on the day for Tennessee, doing so in the 400 IM. Laurito was joined by Mac Clark and Grayson Nye, as the Vols swept all three podium places in the contest.

Women's Results

Emily Armen got on the podium for Tennessee twice, coming second in the 200 Free and third in the 50 Free.
Regan Rathwell claimed two top three finishes on the day for Tennessee, coming second in the 200 Back and third in the 100 Back.
Jillian Crooks had another strong performance for the Lady Vols, taking second place in the 100 Back.
Amelia Mason had a potent individual performance in the 100 Fly, with the freshman placing second with a time of 54.25.
Hannah Marinovich and Tori Brostowitz carried the banner for the Lady Vols in the 200 Breast, with the duo placing second and third respectively.
Julia Burroughs claimed a third place finish in her final regular season home meet of her collegiate career, doing so in the 500 Free.

Men's Results

On senior day, Nick Simons delivered an amazing performance for Tennessee, placing second in the 100 Fly and 200 Free. Simons also put up a personal best time in the 50 Free, breaking the 20-second barrier with a time of 19.81.
Aidan Hill collected his second top-two finish in the 200 Fly of the 2025-26 season, finishing the event a time of 1:49.48.
Nikoli Blackman put up another sub 19.50 50 Free time for Tennessee, finishing in second place on Friday with a time of 19.42. Pedro Sansone joined him on the podium, placing third with a time of 19.76.
Kamal Muhammad and Ulises Saravia helped Tennessee sweep the 100 Free in the dual, with Muhammad finishing second and Saravia placing third.

Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich
"Traditionally our senior meet is really special to the whole team. It's a chance for us to celebrate the seniors and what they've brought to the team and their greatest character traits. At the beginning of the meet we decided to channel the best from those seniors, and I think today was just all about that group and I think our team did a great job celebrating them. I want our team to feel really good about that and treasure this final dual meet experience with them, and realize this closes the chapter on the dual meet season, and moves us into the championships meets. It's a message of continued preparation. We are on a path to be the best we can be at SECs and the same thing at NCAAs".

Head Diving Coach Jane Figueiredo
"A few of our divers are away at an international meet, but the kids that remained did an absolutely stellar job. Bennett [Greene] got a personal best. Owen [Redfearn] got a personal best. So, there were a lot of great things that came out of this meet. I'm just so proud to be their coach, but more so proud that they came in today and did a great job".

Top 10 Times & Scores
3rd - Ella Jansen (200 Fly): 1:52.88
8th - Bennett Greene (3-Meter): 432.55