Tar Heels & Volunteers In Close Meet After Opening Day

Friday, October 21

Knoxville, Tenn.

4:00 PM

North Carolina

Tennessee

Duncan & Nyquist Finish In Top 15 At U.S. Nationals

October 21, 2016 | Swimming & Diving

By: UNC Athletic Communications

KNOXVILLE, TENN. – The North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams trail by small margins against the University of Tennessee after the opening day Friday of a two-day dual meet at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.

Twenty of 40 events were concluded on Friday. The Tennessee women lead 96-90 after the first day while there is a similar score on the men's side with UT ahead of the Heels 99-87.

Jack Nyquist had a tremendous day on the boards, sweeping the one- and three-meter boards. His score in three-meter diving came within a point of breaking David MacDonald's school record set back in 2009.

The Tar Heels' women's relay teams did a great job on the opening day, sweeping both events. Caroline Baldwin, Sarah Hitchens, Brooke Bauer and Katie Ford combined to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:31.77. The 400-yard medley relay team of Baldwin, Katie Munch, Hellen Moffitt and Sarah Hitchens touched first in 3:41.36.

Tar Heel senior women's captain Hellen Moffitt also swam outstandingly in individual events. She won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:58.72, eclipsing UT's Micah Bohon by 1.95 seconds. Her fellow captain, junior Caroline Baldwin, won the 100-yard freestyle in 50.36.

UNC divers, ably led by coach Abel Sanchez, were a key factor on the first day. Elissa Dawson and Maria Lohman went 1-2 in three-meter diving with Dawson far ahead of the field in a big way with a score of 377.93, less than seven points off her own school record.

On the men's side, Jack Nyquist was his steady and consistent self as he scored 363.75 to win one-meter diving by less than a four-point margin over Tennessee's Liam Stone. He came back to win the three-meter event with 446.93 points. It is the second highest three-meter diving score in UNC history, just behind David MacDonald's three-meter score of 447.50 from 2009.

Carolina senior Jorden Merrilees had a tremendous Friday session as the Australian won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:26.14, almost four full seconds over junior teammate Henry Campbell. Just minutes later, Merrilees led a 1-2 finish in the 200-yard backstroke with fellow Tar Heel Heyward Harrison, winning in 1:47.08.

The Tar Heel men had solid finishes in the 200 IM as Eugene Tee, Michael Meyer and Michael McBryan went 2-3-4. The UNC women produced a similar 2-3-4 finish in the 500-yard freestyle with swims from Macey Arnold, Bryanna Cameron and Caty Hulsey. The UNC men also went 2-3-4 in the 200-yard butterfly behind Collier Cobb, Michael Meyer and Henry Campbell.

North Carolina will return to the pool on Saturday when it completes its two-day dual meet against the Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday's session commences at 10 a.m.

UNC will open its ACC season when it travels to Louisville, Ky., on November 5 & 6 to meet the University of Louisville Cardinals.

MEN'S TEAM SCORE THROUGH FIRST DAY

Tennessee 99, UNC 87

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORE THROUGH FIRST DAY

Tennessee 96, UNC 90

TOP CAROLINA FINISHERS IN EACH EVENT--MEN

200-Yard Freestyle Relay – Lucas Popp, Craig Emslie, J.T. Casey, Philip Perdue, 2^nd Place, 1:22.65

One-Meter Diving – Jack Nyquist, 1^st Place, 365.75

200-Yard Individual Medley – Eugene Tee, 2^nd Place, 1:50.43

500-Yard Freestyle – Jorden Merrilees, 1^st Place, 4:26.14

100-Yard Breaststroke – Craig Emslie, 2^nd Place, 55.07

200-Yard Backstroke – Jorden Merrilees, 1^st Place, 1:47.08