The second semester of the 2018-19 season is upon us with a few teams getting back to action this coming weekend. Not a lot of college swimmers will be attending the TYR Pro Swim Series this weekend as a lot of them will be competing in regular practice suits in duel meets.
One of the biggest matchups will be the Tennessee vs. Virginia matchup in Charlottesville. The Volunteers will be hosting the TYR Pro Swim Series this weekend but their team will be traveling to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers in an SEC vs. ACC matchup.
Virginia is ranked 16th in the men’s poll and 11th in the women’s CSCAA poll, while Tennessee is 11th in the men’s top 25 and fifth in the women’s top 25.
Virginia competed at the Georgia Fall Invitational after Thanksgiving, with Paige Madden and Robby Giller. Madden is currently ranked tenth nationally in the 200 back and 13th in the 500. Giller is 9th in the nation in the 200 back and 17th in the 400 IM.
Virginia will have its hands full with the Volunteers, who are led by Joey Reilman and Erika Brown. Reilman is currently second in the nation in the 200 back and 15th in the 100, while Brown is second in the 50 free and third in the 100 fly at the halfway point of the season. Tennessee put up strong swims at its own invitational in Knoxville, but did not have much competition compared to the Georgia Invite.
Virginia will host Tennessee on Friday and then turn right around on Saturday and host in-state rival Virginia Tech. The Hokies swam at the Georgia Tech Invite, where the men put up the third fastest time in the ACC in the 200 free relay.
Virginia Tech is unranked on both sides.
In other action, Miami and Florida State will square off in a rivalry match-up at the University of Alabama on Saturday. It’s another ACC-SEC matchup as both Florida teams will travel north to Tuscaloosa.
Duke will host Division II powerhouse Queens, who is ranked fourth in the Division II men’s poll and third in the women’s poll.
Notre Dame will be traveling to Champaign to take on Illinois and Iowa of the Big Ten.
Go VA….