ASU Swim and Dive Splits Against Virginia in Day 1 of CSCAA Duel Meet Challenge

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

Arizona State swim and dive faced the University of Virginia in the first round of the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday, in what proved to be a tale of two teams.

The ASU men’s team came in as the first seed in the tournament and No. 2 in the country, while the women were the fourth seed and No. 18 in the country.

Virginia’s women’s team, coming off its fifth consecutive National Championship, proved to be a difficult test for ASU, as the women’s team could only take third place in their 400-yard medley relay, with both Virginia teams placing above it.

The men’s team started out better with a win in the 400-yard medley relay, with a win and a third-place finish. This would become a trend as the women’s team would only take one win the entire meet, while the men would take a commanding lead.

That win, however, was a record-breaking one with sophomore Julia Ullmann setting a school record in the 100-yard fly with a time of 51.25. ASU junior Ilya Kharun would continue his dominance in the Butterfly with a 43.80 that secured him first place by over a second.

The women’s team got two points in the 50-yard freestyle as freshman Shane Gollard and senior Gerda Szilagyi placed second and third, respectively. However, they could not grab the win as Virginia junior Melissa Nwakalor would take the victory with a 22.04.

However, the success would carry over to the men’s freestyle as ASU sophomore Tolu Young would set a new season best time with an 18.89 win in the 50-yard freestyle, with senior Tommy Palmer also recording an 18.89 to extend the men’s lead.

The 400-yard individual medley would be a deciding factor in both the men’s and women’s events, but for different reasons. The women would get swept with sophomore Katie Grimes taking the win for Virginia. The men, however, would strike back once again, with sophomore Michael Hochwalt touching the wall at 3:42.16 to grab the win for the Sun Devils

The men’s team won the 100-yard freestyle with a sweep and secured the team win with Remi Fabianin taking the win with a 41:14.

The women’s 100-yard freestyle would put the Cavaliers one point away from securing the win, but ASU would place second and third to keep its hopes alive.

However, in the 100-yard backstroke, Virginia would slam the door shut on the women’s side, with junior Tess Howley clinching the win for Virginia with a time of 51.44, while her teammates took second and third.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Virginia’s women’s team won by over half a pool length to complete the 30-10 win for Virginia.

ASU’s men finished up a commanding meet with their 400 freestyle relay, only missing a pool record by two seconds to dominate the meet 38-3.

Both teams are not done yet, though, with the men and women now splitting paths in the bracket as the men head to the semi-finals, while the women must fight to stay alive tomorrow in the lower bracket.

Both teams will either face the University of Michigan or the University of Tennessee in the next round.