ASU Swim and Dive hosts UCLA and USC in second home meet

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

After setting a collegiate attendance record one month ago, the Arizona State swim and dive team returns to Tempe for two dual meets against the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California on November 7-8 at the Mona Aquatic Center.

The No. 18 Sun Devils women’s squad faces the No. 23 Bruins first, marking the second time this season the women’s team has faced a ranked opponent. The following day, the women swim against the No. 12 Trojans alongside the No. 5 men’s team against the No. 15 Trojans.

Despite the Sun Devils men’s and women’s teams dropping in the rankings a spot each, both teams have been ranked the entire season as the women look to get into the top 15 for the first time this year. The women’s team is 1-1, while the men’s team is 2-0.

The last time the ASU women’s team swam against UCLA was in 2023, when the Sun Devils beat the Bruins 175-125. The 2-2 Bruins recently split a tri-meet on October 25 against Michigan and Northwestern at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They beat Northwestern 165.5-134.5 and lost to No. 8 Michigan 193-103.

Bruins Sophomore Claudia Yovanovich won the 100-yard backstroke in Michigan in 52.87 seconds. Yovanovich will be a worthy opponent against ASU junior Miriam Sheehan. Sheehan has the fourth fastest time at Mona in the 100-back at 52.24 seconds.

The Sun Devils will be looking for revenge the next day against the Trojans. In 2023, the women’s team lost to the Trojans 189-111 and is coming off back-to-back losses in a tri-meet against No. 3 Stanford and No. 9 California. The women’s team is hoping to secure its second and third wins at home when the former Pac-12 Conference opponents come to Tempe.

The USC women’s team is 2-1 after beating Texas A&M 245-106 at home on October 10-11, at the Uytengsy Aquatics Center. The 1-1 USC men’s team also beat Texas A&M that day, 197-155. Both teams will compete against Arizona in a dual meet in Tucson on November 7 before heading to the Valley the following day.

The fastest race on water, the 50-yard freestyle, looks to remain the most exciting event to watch. USC Freshman Diggory Dillingham will compete against junior Ilya Kharun. Dillingham has the fastest time in school history for the Trojans in 19.16 for the event. Kharun returns to the team after winning the bronze in the 50-meter freestyle on October 17 in Toronto at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. The Olympian holds the ASU pool record in the 50-free in 18.60 seconds. Behind Kharun’s top time at Mona are his teammates, senior Tommy Palmer (18.88), graduate Remi Fabiani (18.88) and senior Jonny Kulow (18.90).

Both the men’s and women’s teams will be challenged with difficult opponents this weekend. Pending the results, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two squads climb back up the rankings.