The Cavalier men's and women's swimming and diving teams will hold a dual meet against Georgia Tech for the first time in school history this afternoon at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Swimming against Georgia Tech squads that defeated NC State in their first and only meet of the year, Virginia will be looking to capture their second sweep against a conference opponent this season.
"Georgia Tech has been a team on the rise the last few years," junior Bo Greenwood said. "They have a lot of talented swimmers, and they've placed higher and higher in the ACC every year."
Coincidentally, one of the current Cavaliers has played a major role in the recent success of Georgia Tech's swim and dive program. Assistant coach Sharon Krueger joined Virginia this off-season after three years serving as assistant head coach of the Yellow Jackets.
Krueger "did an awesome job with recruiting there," senior Amy Baly said. "She helped build up a really good team. They have some good sprinters."
Georgia Tech isn't the only team the on the rise in the ACC. Not traditionally known as a swimming powerhouse, the Atlantic Coast Conference now boasts four women's and three men's teams in the top-25. Virginia's men (3-1) are currently ranked No. 9 in the country, with their only loss coming to the defending national champion No. 1 Auburn Tigers. The Cavalier women (2-2) are also nationally ranked, coming in at No. 19 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll.
"I actually think [the ACC] is more competitive than last year," Baly said. "There are a few good teams, like UNC, Maryland and FSU that will give us a run for our money in ACCs."
This season the ACC Championship meets will be held in Charlottesville Feb. 18-28. Despite this fact, the Cavaliers are making an effort to place less importance on their conference championship meet and more on their national performances, something the nation's top teams are able to do.
"Last year was the first year the girls have won ACCs in a couple years, and I think that was big turning point for our program," Baly said. "It is for sure a goal this year to win ACCs. We've been talking about it a lot and focusing on it, but we also want to make sure that it's not our focus for the whole year. We also want to place higher in the NCAAs."
A very talented freshmen class may allow Virginia to place higher nationally than ever before. In particular, freshman Kimi Kelly twice has been named ACC Swimmer of Week for her performances in Virginia's early season meets.
"Our first-year class has added a whole new element to our team," Greenwood said. "They add a lot of depth, and they have a lot of leadership within their class that has contributed to the rest of the team."
With diving at 1 p.m. and swimming at 2 p.m., the Cavaliers will be looking to improve their conference record to 2-0, while showing the Yellow Jackets that they still have a long way to go to get to the top.
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