Courtesy: Auburn Athletics
AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn swimming and diving teams will take on Virginia in a split-session dual meet on Friday in Charlottesville, Va. The Auburn women, ranked No. 17 in the newest CSCAA Top 25 poll, are 1-0 after defeating Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, Oct. 20, while Auburn’s men are competing for the first time this season.
Virginia’s men have a pair of dual meet wins under their belts, defeating Penn State and Pittsburgh earlier in the month. Virginia’s women are also 2-0 with wins over the same opponents.
In a twist on the traditional dual meet, each session will start and end with a relay and then have six races drawn in a random order following each race to be contested five minutes after the draw.
“This is going to be a great challenge for our team,” Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. “Anytime you go into the opposing team’s territory it’s a little bit different in the first place, but this on top of it will really test the mettle and attitude of our team.”
Friday’s morning session events will include the 50, 200 and 1000 freestyles, the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 butterfly. The afternoon session will include the 100 and 500 freestyles, the 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 IM. The four relays contested will be the 200 and 400 medley and freestyle relays. Auburn’s divers will compete on the tradition 1- and 3-meter.
“This is going to force our staff to think on our feet and be quick,” Taylor said. “We will have some plans going into it but it’s going to have a different vibe and atmosphere to this meet. I think it’s an interesting format.”
The morning session begins at 9 a.m. CT, diving takes place at 1 p.m. and the afternoon session at 4 p.m.
Auburn’s women won 10 of 11 swimming races and swept the diving events in the win over Florida Gulf Coast. Aly Tetzloff and Erin Falconer both won a pair of events, with Tetzloff swimming a B cut in the 100 fly (53.65). Bailey Nero also picked up a B cut in winning the 400 IM in 4:16.81. In diving, Alison Maillard won both springboard events with Zone Diving Championship qualifying scores on each.
Live stats for Friday’s meet will be available through AuburnTigers.com and Divemeets.com.