Meredith and Lauren Perdue were born to swim for Virginia.
The sisters not only serve as a dynamic duo for the Cavaliers' swimming and diving team, but they're also carrying on a family legacy in the process.
Their father, Phil Perdue, swam for Virginia during his time at the University. The team's coach during the elder Perdue's career, Mark Bernardino, still leads the Virginia squad today and mentors Lauren and Meredith.
The Perdue sisters seemingly always wanted to follow in the swim strokes of their dad. Taught to love the sport at an early age, senior Meredith and junior Lauren cannot imagine another path.
"We both started when we were about eight years old," Lauren said. "We tried other sports along the way, but we just aren't coordinated individuals. Swimming [our whole lives], we've always had a passion for the water."
Meredith was the first to decide to attend the University, but her younger sister quickly followed.
"After [Meredith] made the decision to come here to U.Va., in my heart that was where I felt like I needed to be and where I wanted to be," Lauren said. "It just happened to work out perfectly that we got to spend three years together."
When siblings only one year apart attend the same university and join the same team, it creates a special dynamic, which has benefited the Perdues both in and out of the pool. The two Greenville, NC natives lean on each other while residing outside their home state year-round. The sisters currently live together and also kept each other company while training in Charlottesville during the summer. Each provides the other with the perfect training partner, always offering encouragement when needed.
"They are two of the most loving sisters you could ever see," Bernardino said. "They take care of each other, they're special to one another, they complement each other in terms of strengths and weaknesses, [and] they give each other confidence. They're just two really nice children who come from a really good family. They give and receive great support from one another."
Outside the pool, little separates Lauren and Meredith. But
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