Pac-12 Weekly Preview: Cal-Stanford, USC-UCLA in Rivalry Week

With most of the power conferences gearing up for their respective conference championship meets, the Pac-12 Conference has its final week of women’s competition

And it is rivalry eek.

Two of the biggest rivalries in swimming highlight the women’s regular-season finale.

On Friday, UCLA visits USC in one of the oldest rivalries in the sport. On Saturday, Stanford travels to Cal for a battle of what could be the top two teams in the country in their annual powerhouse dual meet.

USC is led by NCAA 100 butterfly champion Louise Hansson as well as Pac-12 breaststroke champion Riley Scott, with a supporting cast that includes Maddie Wright, Marta Ciesla and Tatum Wade.

Photo Courtesy: Marta Ciesla (Instagram)

The Bruins, on the other hand, are led by their divers.

Eloise Belanger is coming off or another Pac-12 Diver of the Week honor for UCLA. She and teammate Maria Polykova have each earned the conference’s top diving honor in the past, winning back-to-back Pac-12 Diver of the Year honors as a team.

2016.03.17 2016 Womens NCAA Swimming Championships_Eloise Belanger UCLA

Eloise Belanger. Photo Courtesy: Reagan Lunn/Georgia Tech Athletics

Of course, the heavyweight battle will come on Saturday with Cal and Stanford.

The Cardinal have won the past two NCAA championships, but with the graduation of several Olympians, are not quite the same team. Of course they are still arguably the best team in the country with Ella Eastin, Katie Drabot , Brooke Forde, Leah Stevens and Taylor Ruck leading the way, but no meet is out of reach like it was the past couple of years.

Brooke Forde. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Meanwhile, Cal lost Kathleen Baker, who turned pro, but still has a ton of stars in its lineup, led by Katie McLaughlin, Maddie Murphy, Abbey Weitzeil, Robin Neumann and Amy Bilquist.

But apart from the biggest names, the meet could come down to how Stanford’s Kim Williams, or Megan Byrnes finishes in an event. Or Cal’s Cassidy Bayer or Keaton Blovad. Or even someone brand new waiting to make their first mark with a big swim. You never know.

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Bilquist, McLaughlin, Murphy and Weitzeil. Photo Courtesy: Chuckarelei Studios

It could be that thrilling of a meet.

In the final meet of the week, Utah also travels to Washington State to conclude its women’s season.

Check out complete Pac-12 coverage here.

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