Swimming and Diving Head to Tennessee

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville men's and women's swimming and diving teams heads to Knoxville this Thursday to face regional rival Tennessee at 2 p.m. at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

The Cardinals are coming off a pair of meets last weekend. The squad split the roster, sending some to the SMU Classic and some back home to take on Auburn. The University of Louisville men's swimming and diving team won the SMU Classic and the Cardinal women were second as the two-day meet came to a close Saturday afternoon in Dallas. The Louisville women beat Auburn in the dual meet, with Auburn winning on the men's side.

At SMU, the Louisville men scored 313 points ahead of Auburn's 312 followed by USC (305), Texas (270), Missouri (234) and SMU (227). The women scored 334 points, trailing only USC (345). Next came Auburn (289), Missouri (242), SMU (217), and Miami (Fla.) (205). Else Praasterink was named Diver of the Meet.
Denis Petrashov led the Cardinals to a victory at the SMU Classic, earning three first-place finishes in the 100 breast (51.95), 200 breast (1:55.88) and the 400 medley relay (3:07.76). Healso placed third in the 200 medley relay (1:26.79). The junior's time in the100 breast is the fastest in the nation and a NCAA B-cut, while his time in the200 breast and his split of 51.62 in the 400 medley relay rank second-fastest in the nation. Petrashov ranks fifth in the nation with his split of 23.80 in the 200 medley relay.
Gabi Albiero recorded four first place finishes at the SMU Classic in the 50 free (21.75), 100 free (47.67), 100 fly (51.16) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.12). The senior placed second in the 200 medley relay (1:37.29) and third in the 400 medley relay (3:34.70). Her time in the 50 free and 100 fly are the fastest in the nation while her 100 free and 400 medley relay time are third in the nation. The Louisville, Kentucky, native recorded a 21.94 split in the 200 free relay to help Louisville hold the fastest time in the country and a NCAA B-cut.
At the Louisville versus Auburn dual meet, the women's swimming and diving team beat Auburn 183-170 after two days of racing at the Ralph Wright Natatorium. The Auburn men prevailed 202-151. The Cardinals were buoyed by multiple event winners Julia Dennis (200 Medley Relay, 100 Free), Fernanda Celidonio (200 Medley Relay and 200 IM) and diver Samm Helmboldt swept both boards. The men got a boost with wins from Vlad Dubinin (100 free) and Aidan Kreiley (200 breast).

About the Volunteers
This season, UT has a combined 78 total SEC medals across the roster, leading all conference schools by at least 17. The Vols return 10 defending SEC champions, while the Lady Vols boast three. With SEC Swimmer of the Year Jordan Crooks and SEC Diver of the Year Bryden Hattie returning to Rocky Top this season, Tennessee is the first school to have the reigning SOTY and DOTY returning to campus to defend their crowns. Nick Stone, the reigning SEC Freshman Diver of the Year, is also back and solidifies one of the top men's diving groups in the country. Last season, both the Vols and Lady Vols tallied top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, the first time both teams have accomplished that feat in the same season. The men and women both return seven of eight point scorers from last season's seventh and eighth place squads, respectively. Jordan Crooks is the reigning NCAA Champion in the 50 free, while Brooklyn Douthwright (200 free), Bryden Hattie (platform) and Mona McSharry (100 breast) were all national runner-ups who are back again this year.

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Gabi Albiero

Fernanda Celidonio

Julia Dennis

Samm Helmboldt

Aidan Kreiley

Denis Petrashov

Else Praasterink

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