Press Release courtesy of Louisville Athletics
After nearly a two-week hiatus from competition, the University of Louisville men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will return to the Ralph Wright Natatorium on Thursday at 2 p.m.for a Top-25 showdown against the University of Tennessee.
Last time out for the Cardinals, the No. 13 men and No. 11 women were defeated by Big Ten powerhouse (No. 7/3) Michigan. Despite the loss, Louisville compiled a collective 11 NCAA ‘B’ standard times and recorded six first place finishes. On the men’s side, freshman Nicolas Albiero swept the backstroke events, while Mallory Comerford and Rachael Bradford-Feldman each notched individual victories for the women. In the diving events, Molly Fears and Brianna Price earned victories in the 1-meter and 3-meter respectively.
The No. 15 Tennessee men (4-1, 2-0 SEC) defeated Kentucky but lost to the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in their most recent competition. On the women’s side, No. 12 Tennessee swept Kentucky and Indiana, improving their record to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC.
The Louisville men have posted a number of Top 10 performances so far this season, led by Marcelo Acosta with the six-ranked time in the nation in the 500 free (4:22.59) and the fourth-ranked time in the 1000 free (9:01.18). UofL also boasts the No. 2 spot in the 800 free relay (6:38.11), along with a pair of ninth-ranked times in the 400 free relay (2:57.92) and 400 medley relay (3:14.65).
On the women’s side, Comerford holds the fastest time in the nation in the 100 free with a 47.00. The junior also owns the No. 2 times in the 50 free (22.04) and 200 free (1:41.70), as well as the eighth-ranked time in the 500 free (4:39.24). In the butterfly events, Grace Oglesby has been a standout performer for the Cards with the No. 3 time in the nation in the 200 (1:55.05) and the No.4 time in the 100 (52.66). Alina Kendzior leads the Cardinal backstroke contingent with the No. 5 time in the 200 back (1:53.78) and the No. 6 time in the 100 back (52.60). In the breaststroke events, Mariia Astashkina is No. 4 in the 200 (2:09.34) and No. 9 in the 100 (1:01.25). Bradford-Feldman has posted three swims inside the Top 10 with the No. 5 time in the 400 IM (4:11.86), the No. 7 time in the 200 IM (1:57.55), and the No. 10 time in the 200 breast (2:12.92). Rounding out individual Top 10 performances for the Cardinals are Arina Openysheva in eighth in the 200 free (1:46.42) and Lainey Visscher in ninth in 100 free (49.19).
All five of the Lady Cards’ relays rank inside the Top 5 in Division I, highlighted by their nation-leading 200 free relay (1:28.72). The Cardinals hold the No.2 times in the 800 free (7:06.36), 200 medley (1:38.31), and 400 medley relays (3:32.65), as well the fifth-ranked time in the 400 free relay (3:19.52).
The Tennessee men have posted three individual Top 10 performances, including Sam McHugh in the 400 IM (3rd), Kyle Decoursey in the 50 free (5th), and Peter Stevens in the 100 breast (5th). They also hold the No.1 time in the nation in the 200 medley relay (1:26.22), and their 200 (8th) and 400 free relays (4th) are both ranked inside the Top 10 as well. In the diving events, Zhipeng Zeng has the fourth-ranked 1-meter score (4:14.35) and the sixth-ranked 3-meter score (410.35). Ericka Brown leads the women with her third-ranked time in the 100 fly (52.61), while the Volunteers’ 400 free relay (2nd), 200 medley relay (7th), and 400 medley relay (9th) have all earned Top 10 rankings.