Brown and Connolly Post Season-Leading Times In Tennessee Sweep of Virginia

Tennessee v. Virginia

• Saturday, October 19, 2019
• Knoxville, TN
• Full Results
• Scores:
  • Women: Tennessee 164.5, Virginia 135.5
  • Men: Tennessee 166, Virginia 134

After pulling out of a the tri-meet that was scheduled at Michigan this weekend, the Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Cavaliers decided to go ahead and still race, but do it in Knoxville instead of Ann Arbor. Even though we ranked both Virginia teams ahead of both Tennesee teams in our initial power rankings, the Volunteers came out on top in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

Women’s Recap

The meet got underway with a tight race in the 200 medley relay. Meghan Small’s 24.62 put Tennessee in the lead, but Alexis Wenger’s 27.65 breaststroke lead gave the Cavaliers a 0.08 lead at the halfway point. Kate Douglass put UVA back in front with a 23.26 fly leg, but Tennesee’s anchor Erika Brown quickly erased the UVA lead, out splitting Morgan Hill 21.52 to 22.17, and giving the Lads Vols the victory, 1:37.83 to 1:38.23.

Ultimately, Tennesee would win on the strength of triples from team stalwarts Brown and Small.

Brown, one of the premier sprinters in the NCAA, won her signature events – the 50 free, the 100 free, and the 100 fly. She took the 50 free in a swift 21.96, while UVA’s Douglass took 2nd in 22.26. Brown also won the 100 free in 48.17, before coming back to face Douglass again in the 100 fly. Brown completed the tripled with a 51.12 victory, with Douglass again finishing 2nd, this time in a lifetime best of 51.29.

All three of Brown’s individual performances are officially the top times in the NCAA so far this season, while Douglass’ 100 fly time puts her only behind Brown. (Note: Maggie McNeil did go 49.57 in the 100 fly at the Michigan Intrasquad yesterday, but that shouldn’t be considered an official time for NCAA qualifying purposes and shouldn’t up in the NCAA database). Douglass, the top ranked recruit in the girls high school class of 2019, has been on fire so far this season for the Cavaliers, knocking down several personal bests at the UVA Intrasquad and the Trojan Invite.

Meghan Small  also tripled for the Lady Vols. She first took the 100 back in 53.20. She then came back in the second half of the meet to win the 200 back in 1:55.06 over 2nd place Emma Seiberlich of UVA (1:55.46), and then completed the triple with a 1:58.94 victory in the 200 IM.

UVA got a triple from distance stalwart Paige Madden. In the first individual event of the day, the 1000 free, Madden battled it out with UVA freshman Maddie Donohoe the whole way, just holding off the freshman 9:54.48 to 9:54.68. Madden jumped right back in the pool about 10 minutes later to win the 200 free in 1:46.61. Toward the end of the meet, Madden and Donohoe would once again go 1-2, with Madden winning the 500 free 4:49.83 to 4:50.01.

Tennessee didn’t use Erika Brown on the 400 free relay, but didn’t need to. The team of Bailey Grinter (49.54), Tjasa Pinter (49.47) Trude Rothrock (49.37), and Stanzi Moseley (49.12) combined for 3:27.50, giving the Lady Vols a 0.31. UVA got a 49.48 leadoff from Morgan Hill but 50.04 and 50.42 split from Madden and Meg Moroney meant that even Douglass’ scorching 47.87 anchor leg wasn’t quite enough to put the Cavaliers back in the lead.

Men’s Recap

The Tennesee men got things going with a 2+ second victory in the 200 medley relay. Michael Houlie split a speedy 23.74 on the breaststroke as the Volunteers won 1:26.66 to 1:28.90.

The Volunteers’ MVP of the meet was sprint freestyler Alec Connolly, who after splitting 19.40 on the medley relay to open the meet, won the 50 free and the 100 free in 19.94/43.55. That 100 free time is the fastest time in the NCAA so far this season. Additionally, Connolly anchored Tennesee’s winning 400 free relay in 43.11.

Matthew Garcia matched Connolly’s  two individual victories as he swept the backstroke events in 48.11 and 1:46.01.

Michael Houlie may have had the next-most impressive swim of the evening after Connolly, though, as his 53.78 victory in the 100 breast puts him 3rd in NCAA Division I so far this season.

Tennessee also got wins from Taylor Abbott in the 1000 free (9:11.08) and Braga Verhage in the 100 fly (48.35).

Casey Storch doubled for the Cavaliers, first beating out teammate Sam Schilling in the 200 breast (2:00.08 to 2:00.24) and then taking the 200 IM in 1:49.00.

Schilling got a win of his own, earning UVA’s first victory of the meet with a 1:38.21 in the 200 free.

UVA veteran Ted Schubert won the 200 fly (1:47.23), while freshman Jack Walker earned the victory in the 500 free with a 4:24.42.

Tennessee Release

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 15/16 Tennessee swimming and diving team secured a big win over No. 2/4 Virginia Saturday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, sweeping the men’s and women’s competition.

The Vols defeated the fourth-ranked Virginia men’s team, 166-134, earning their third win over UVA in the last four meetings. The Lady Vols took down the Cavaliers’ second-ranked women’s team, 164.5-135.5.

The Lady Vols were highlighted by several standout performances, including Erika Brown and Meghan Small winning three individual events apiece and helping to lead Tennessee to relay wins as well as setting some of the nation’s fastest times.

In the 50 freestyle, Brown threw down the nation’s best 50 free swim of the season, turning in a 21.96. She carried that momentum into the 100 free where she again vaulted to the top of the national leaderboards with a 48.17, setting an NCAA B-cut time.

Brown went 3-for-3 with her win in the 100 butterfly, setting the country’s fastest time at 51.12 and notching another NCAA B-cut. The senior helped power the Lady Vols to victory in the 200 medley relay, swimming the anchor leg and stopping the clock at 1:37.83. With their time in the 200 medley relay, the Lady Vols now hold the nation’s third-fastest time.

“Erika is a student of the sport,” associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. “She doesn’t take anything for granted but uses every opportunity to get better. Her competitive drive, her focus on her Lady Vol team combined with how she utilizes opportunities makes every one of her races really exciting to watch.”

Small joined Brown on the 200 medley relay, swimming leadoff with a monstrous 24.62. She followed that up with the fourth-quickest 100 backstroke in the nation this season at 53.20, an NCAA B-cut. The senior set her second NCAA B-cut of the day in the 200 back at 1:55.06, the country’s eighth-fastest this year.

She rounded out her day with a third NCAA B-cut in the 200 individual medley, touching the wall at 1:58.94, locking down the sixth spot nationally.

Stanzi Moseley had a solid day for UT, swimming on both winning relays in the 200 medley and 400 free. She finished second in the 100 free at 49.63 and posted a third place finish in the 50 free with a 22.88.

Bailey Grinter tied Moseley for third in the 50 free while placing fourth in the 100 free at 49.78. She swam the leadoff leg for the 400 free relay, posting a time of 49.54.

The Lady Vols emerged victorious in the 400 free relay with the country’s No. 2 time at 3:17.50.

In the 200 IM, Tess Cieplucha joined Small in setting an NCAA B-cut time. She stopped the clock at 1:59.27 and in doing so, set the nation’s eighth quickest time.

“Our team competed really well today,” Jahn said. “We had great leadership from all classes and it was a great team effort all around. We were very professional in our preparation, race execution and we were committed to winning. Virginia is a very strong team and we knew they would come in ready to compete. I’m really proud of the team’s effort and poise under pressure.”

On the men’s side, Alec Connolly and Matthew Garcia led the Vols with multiple wins while the team set seven times that place among the top 10 nationally.

“Connolly and Garcia have been so consistent with high level performances but it is the senior class as a whole that has been leading this team,” associate head coach Lance Asti said. “They did a great job leading the team through preparation and had us ready to go against a talented Virginia squad.”

Connolly got his day started helping the Vols win the 200 medley relay at 1:26.66. That time is good for second in the nation. The senior took home wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle at 19.94 and 43.55, respectively. His time in the 100 free is second nationally and gives him an NCAA B-cut.

Garcia took home wins in the 100 and 200 back at 48.11 and 1:46.01, respectively. Both times are 10th nationally. He swam the leadoff leg on the Vols’ 200 medley relay and finished third in the 200 IM, touching the wall at 1:50.91.

In the distance swims, Taylor Abbott notched a win in the 1000 free, setting the country’s 10th-fastest time at 9:11.08. He finished second in the 500 free with a swim of 4:25.29 which places him fifth nationally.

Michael Houlie showed out in winning the 100 breaststroke at 53.78, setting the country’s third-fastest time and earning an NCAA B-cut.

“I am really proud of how these men are continuing to build their competitive identity,” Asti said. “We trained hard this week but didn’t let fatigue define the meet. These guys love racing and that really came through today.”

In diving, the Vols and Cavaliers spilt the events with UT claiming wins in the women’s 3-meter and men’s 1-meter while Virginia took the women’s 1-meter and men’s 3-meter.

Grace Cable won her fifth event of the season, scoring a 323.40 on her 3-meter dive. Likewise, Will Hallam took his fifth event win of the year on the 1-meter board with a score of 335.93.

“This was another solid outing with continued consistent performances from both Will and Grace,” diving coach Dave Parrington said. “It was good to see Will take a risk and put in a brand new big 3.5 degree of difficulty dive on 3-meter. That will pay dividends down the road. In Grace’s case, she missed her second dive on 3-meter but rebounded well to come back for the win.”

Parrington praised Keegan Richardson who set zone scores on both boards, scoring 314.93 on 1-meter and 330.23 on the 3-meter board.

UP NEXT
Tennessee will travel to Louisville on Thursday Oct. 24 for a dual meet against the Louisville Cardinals.

Virginia Release

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –  The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams fell in a dual meet against Tennessee at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on Saturday (Oct. 19). The No. 2 Virginia women’s team (0-1) dropped to No. 15 Tennessee (3-0) 164.5-135.5, while the No. 4 UVA men’s team (0-1) lost 166-134 against the No. 16 Volunteers (3-0).

Junior Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala.) lead the Cavaliers recording three first-place finishes. Madden topped the 1000-yard freestyle with the eighth-fastest time in the country, recording a time of 9:54.48. She followed with a time of 1:46.61 in the 200-yard freestyle and a time of 4:49.83 in the 500-yard freestyle to win both events.

“We had a great meet today against Tennessee,” head coach Todd DeSorbo said. “Obviously, it was tough competition and that’s our goal. We want to compete against teams that are as good, if not better, than us and at certain times of the year some teams are going to be better than us. It was a really good challenge, especially on a last-minute (location) switch. I have to hand it to the team, we fought hard the entire way. We had a lot of energy, a lot of fight and a lot of support for each other, which is always the most important thing. We race as a family, we win as a family, we lose as a family.”

In addition to Madden, seven Cavaliers recorded a win during the meet including a pair of victories from sophomore Casey Storch(Great Falls, Va.). Storch placed first in the 200-yard breaststroke with the seventh-best time in the NCAA this season at 2:00.08 and the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:49.00. Sophomore Alexis Wenger (Detroit, Mich.) finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:01.68. Junior Samuel Schilling(Excelsior, Minn.) won the 200-yard freestyle, recording a time of 1:38.21, while senior Ted Schubert (Ashland, Va.) captured the top swim in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:47.23, the eighth-best time in the NCAA heading into the weekend. Freshman Jack Walker(Charlotte, N.C.) finished first in the 500-yard freestyle, recording a time of 4:24.42.

On the boards, senior Sydney Dusel (Naperville, Ill.) recorded a score of 282.68 to win the 1m dive as senior Bryce Shelton (Vienna, Va.) won the 3m dive with a score of 374.18.

“Tennessee is a well-coached team and always swims well,” DeSorbo said. “We were happy for the challenge and want to thank them for putting this together last minute. The meet ran great and our team enjoyed racing. We are looking forward to being back here next month.

“There were a lot of highlights today. You can’t always control what the other team is doing and how they are preparing throughout the season but I’m definitely happy with how our squad competed today. We had a lot of wins for the women and a lot of wins for the men. Paige Madden is definitely a mainstay with winning events, and she’s a tough one to beat in any distance freestyle. I’m definitely pleased with where we are at. Again, the ultimate goal is what we do in March at NCAAs and just progressing towards that day-by-day. The goal now is to get back to doing more good work, like we have been, and prepare for this coming weekend against Wisconsin, and just try to be better than we were this weekend. Then from there, try to get better each week.”

The Cavaliers will host their home opener on at the Aquatic and Fitness Center beginning on Friday (Oct. 25) as the team welcomes Wisconsin to Charlottesville for a two-day meet.