BATON ROUGE — Fresh off a dual-meet sweep of Southeastern Conference rival, Kentucky on Wednesday, the LSU swimming and diving teams return to the water Saturday at noon as they take on ACC power, Florida State in the LSU Natatorium.
The 19th-ranked men’s squad (3-1) will go after its fourth consecutive dual-meet victory when they face the 18th-ranked Seminoles. The Lady Tigers (2-2-1) will look to carry over their momentum from an excellent, all-around effort versus the Wildcats to Saturday’s competition.
“It’s really a great rivalry,” LSU head coach Adam Schmitt said. “Florida State is one of the top programs in the ACC, and there is the added twist that their head coach, Neil Harper and I swam together here at LSU. We face each other once a year, and we’re expecting another highly competitive meet this season.
“I’m hoping we can carry the momentum we gained from Wednesday’s victory against Kentucky and continue to progress, both individually and as a team.”
The LSU men won 11 of 16 events en route to a 177-123 victory over Kentucky Wednesday. Senior Julius Gloeckner shined with three event titles on the afternoon, posting wins in the 200-yard butterfly, 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley.
Senior Niko Dalman continued to prove why he’s one of the top divers in the conference with his performance Wednesday. The Auburn, Wash., native swept the one-meter and three-meter springboards and scored a career-high 357.68 points in the one-meter versus the Wildcats, which is the second-best total in school history. That mark is also ranked third in the SEC. In addition, freshman Brian Gemberling earned a bid to the NCAA Zone Diving Regional with a qualifying score of 301.50 in the one-meter.
Sophomores Hannes Heyl, Clint Hallum and Luis Gonzalez each registered wins in the 100 backstroke, 500 freestyle and 1000 freestyle, respectively. Moreover, senior Christoph Lubenau prevailed in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.53 seconds, and fellow senior Roy Chambers took the 100 breast, touching the wall in 57.44.
The Lady Tigers put together their finest dual-meet performance of the season to defeat the Kentucky women. Seniors Katherine Noland and Vanessa Duenas and freshman Morgan McGee each captured two event titles apiece to spur the women’s squad to victory.
Noland recorded wins in both the 50-yard and 100-yard frees, while Duenas tallied 18 points with victories in the 200 breaststroke and 200 IM. McGee swam to victory in both backstroke races.
Senior Sabrina Messmer and junior Lauren Grandy also notched wins against Kentucky as Messmer secured the 200 free in 1:51.68 and Grandy took the 500 free with a time of 4:59.72. Furthermore, freshman Chelsea McCorvey qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Regional with her score in the one-meter, 282.16.
Last season, the LSU men held off the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla., 164.5-135.5, while the Lady Tigers emerged victorious against the Florida State women, 187-113.
Mike the Tiger and the LSU cheerleaders will be in attendance Saturday, and fans will have an opportunity to win LSU swimming and diving gear and other prizes. Free pom poms, posters and schedule cards will also be available.
The LSU Natatorium is located at the corner of W. Chimes Street and Nicholson Drive next to the Carl Maddox Field House and in front of the old Tiger Park. Admission to all LSU swimming and diving meets is free.