Nationally Ranked Virginia Defeats Clemson

Oct. 25, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. – Both the nationally-ranked Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams defeated Clemson in Atlantic Coast Conference meets at the McHugh Natatorium in Clemson, SC Saturday afternoon.

The number-10th ranked Cavalier women’s team defeated Clemson 169-131, while the 15th-ranked Virginia men won over Clemson 189-105. Both Virginia teams are the defending Atlantic Coast Conference Champions.

Both the Virginia teams are now 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in the ACC as the Cavaliers won their meets against South Carolina on Friday, in Columbia.

The Clemson men’s team are now 1-2 on the year and 0-2 in the ACC. The Tiger women’s team is now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in league action.

In the women’s meet, Clemson started with a win in the 200 medley relay. Kelli Kyle, Katrina Obas, and Rachel Regone won with a time of 1:43.56, just 6/100 of a second better than the Virginia team.

Regone also won two other individual events as she won the 50 free with a time of 23.25 and won the 100 free with a time of 51.31. She finished the day winning two individual events and was also a member of two victorious relay teams.

The Tigers’ Michelle Parkhurst won in the women’s 200 free with a time of 1:50.31 as she defeated Liz Shaw of Virginia by 53/100 of a second. Both Parkhust and Regone were on the 400 free relay team along with Summer O’Donnell and Lauren Sindall that were victorious with a time of 3:26.09.

For Virginia, Mei Christensen was a triple event winner, as she won the 100 back (54.51), the 200 back (1:57.17), and the 200 IM (2:03.25).

In women’s three-meter diving, Stephanie Fura, and Cassie Self all of Clemson swept the top three places in the competition. Clemson’s Fura also won the one-meter diving competition. Self finished third in this event and George was fourth.

Clemson’s Dan Mengering was a dual winner for the men’s team has he won the men’s 50 free and was a member of the victorious 400 freestyle relay team. Mengering won the 50 free with a time of 21.30. The 400 freestyle relay team won the race with a time of 3:08.73. Mengering also finished second in the 100 free.

The Tigers’ Matt Angelini won the 200 IM as he turned in a time of 1:55.45.

For the Cavaliers, Eric Olesen and Ryan Hurley were both triple event winners. Olesen won the 100 back (49.68), the 100 fly (49.95), and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team. Ryan Hurley won both the 100 breast (56.96), and the 200 breast (2:01.79) events. He was also a member of the victorious 200 medley relay team.

“On the women’s side, I thought we did a great job as we were down by just nine points a few times during the meet,” said Clemson Head Coach Chris Ip. This team believes they can compete with anybody in the ACC. We know that a loss is hurtful, but we gave them a good run. I’m very proud of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. They both picked up great victories today. We competed tremendously and kept the meet close. This will give us confidence as we go through the season.”

“On the men’s side we are a very young and small team. We are also a little banged up with injuries. I thought we competed well, and this will help this young team gain more confidence and experience. Virginia won the ACC Championship last year, and we never backed down as we threw everything we had at them today. This meet will help us later on during the season. Again, we don’t like losses, but I’m proud that we kept hungry, competed well, and looked very sharp today,” said Ip.

Clemson’s next meet for both the men’s and women’s squads will be Friday, October 31, as the Tigers meet South Carolina in Columbia. Meet time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.