University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, November 4
Chapel Hill, N.C.
1:00 p.m.
North Carolina
vs
Virginia Tech
UNC senior Henry Campbell leads the distance corps against Virginia Tech.
Photo by: Justin Caterline
TAR HEELS HOST FIRST HOME MEET OF SEASON
November 3, 2017 | Swimming & Diving
Virginia Tech visits Koury Natatorium Saturday at 1 p.m.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams host their first home meet of the 2017-18 season this Saturday, November 3 when they take on a pair of nationally-ranked Virginia Tech Hokie teams at 1 p.m. at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill. Admission is free.
The 19th-ranked Tar Heel women's side is coming off a win against the 22nd-ranked University of South Carolina Gamecocks by a score of 159-141 on October 26, boosting its record to 1-1. The Tar Heel men's team fell at South Carolina the same day by a score of 168-132, falling to 0-2 on the year.
It's been three years since the Hokies have faced off with the Tar Heels in dual-meet competition as the Tar Heels swept the Hokies with a men's team score of 182-118 and a women's team score of 186-108 on October 25, 2014 at Koury Natatorium.
UNC head swimming coach Rich DeSelm has high expectations for his team for the upcoming meet this weekend. The Hokies' 19th-ranked men's and 21st-ranked women's swimming and diving teams are entering this weekend undefeated with 4-0 and 5-0 marks, respectively. The Hokies have nearly replicated the Tar Heels' schedule as they have also squared off with nationally-ranked opponents early in the season.
"We respect the heck out of them and hopefully we will be ready to show up and race them tough," claims coach DeSelm. "They're always good and have an outstanding coaching staff. They're a great team, very spirited. They will bring a lot to Koury Natatorium on Saturday without a doubt."
With both womens' sides being ranked in the Top 25 of the CSCAA coach DeSelm said he expects the meet to be close and looks to his seniors for leadership to guide his team during defining moments.
"We know they're going to bring everything they've got," DeSelm went on to say. "They've competed really well this fall and we expect them to be better than they have been all fall and we expect ourselves to be better than we have been all fall."
Last week Tar Heel swimmer Caroline Baldwin was chosen as the ACC Women's Swimmer of the Week and swimmer Valdas Abaliksta was given the nod to be the ACC Men's Swimmer of the Week. Both swimmers won individual events and provided valuable contributions to their victorious relay teams at South Carolina on October 26th.
"It is fun to get that kind of recognition and hopefully we will get more," claimed DeSelm. "We are proud of not only Caroline and Valdas, but the whole team working hard and trying to get better everyday."
Diving coach Abel Sanchez also has high expectations for this weekend's meet. "I am excited to have a team like Virginia Tech coming into town," says Sanchez. "They have a great team and are extremely deep in quality. It will be a good meet on our end as well. The divers are training hard and learning new dives. This should be a great contest."
"There is going to be some great competition," says DeSelm. "Some fast swimming and great diving and i think it will be exciting and it will be great to have a pro-Carolina crowd in the stands."
After hosting the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Tar Heels will host another home meet against the three-time reigning men's national champion, the University of Texas Longhorns, on Saturday, November 11 at noon at Koury Natatorium.
Live stats for this week's meet against Virginia Tech will be made available through GoHeels.com and Twitter @uncswimdive shortly before the start of competition. Be sure to follow the Tar Heel swimmers and divers this Saturday and throughout the season.
Saturday's meet versus Virginia Tech will also be webcast nationally on ACC Network Extra.
The 19th-ranked Tar Heel women's side is coming off a win against the 22nd-ranked University of South Carolina Gamecocks by a score of 159-141 on October 26, boosting its record to 1-1. The Tar Heel men's team fell at South Carolina the same day by a score of 168-132, falling to 0-2 on the year.
It's been three years since the Hokies have faced off with the Tar Heels in dual-meet competition as the Tar Heels swept the Hokies with a men's team score of 182-118 and a women's team score of 186-108 on October 25, 2014 at Koury Natatorium.
UNC head swimming coach Rich DeSelm has high expectations for his team for the upcoming meet this weekend. The Hokies' 19th-ranked men's and 21st-ranked women's swimming and diving teams are entering this weekend undefeated with 4-0 and 5-0 marks, respectively. The Hokies have nearly replicated the Tar Heels' schedule as they have also squared off with nationally-ranked opponents early in the season.
"We respect the heck out of them and hopefully we will be ready to show up and race them tough," claims coach DeSelm. "They're always good and have an outstanding coaching staff. They're a great team, very spirited. They will bring a lot to Koury Natatorium on Saturday without a doubt."
With both womens' sides being ranked in the Top 25 of the CSCAA coach DeSelm said he expects the meet to be close and looks to his seniors for leadership to guide his team during defining moments.
"We know they're going to bring everything they've got," DeSelm went on to say. "They've competed really well this fall and we expect them to be better than they have been all fall and we expect ourselves to be better than we have been all fall."
Last week Tar Heel swimmer Caroline Baldwin was chosen as the ACC Women's Swimmer of the Week and swimmer Valdas Abaliksta was given the nod to be the ACC Men's Swimmer of the Week. Both swimmers won individual events and provided valuable contributions to their victorious relay teams at South Carolina on October 26th.
"It is fun to get that kind of recognition and hopefully we will get more," claimed DeSelm. "We are proud of not only Caroline and Valdas, but the whole team working hard and trying to get better everyday."
Diving coach Abel Sanchez also has high expectations for this weekend's meet. "I am excited to have a team like Virginia Tech coming into town," says Sanchez. "They have a great team and are extremely deep in quality. It will be a good meet on our end as well. The divers are training hard and learning new dives. This should be a great contest."
"There is going to be some great competition," says DeSelm. "Some fast swimming and great diving and i think it will be exciting and it will be great to have a pro-Carolina crowd in the stands."
After hosting the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Tar Heels will host another home meet against the three-time reigning men's national champion, the University of Texas Longhorns, on Saturday, November 11 at noon at Koury Natatorium.
Live stats for this week's meet against Virginia Tech will be made available through GoHeels.com and Twitter @uncswimdive shortly before the start of competition. Be sure to follow the Tar Heel swimmers and divers this Saturday and throughout the season.
Saturday's meet versus Virginia Tech will also be webcast nationally on ACC Network Extra.
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Swimming & DivingUNC Field Hockey: Tar Heels Drop Duke, 5-2, for Spot in ACC Final
Thursday, November 06
UNC Men's Soccer: Tar Heels Down Irish, 3-1, to Advance in ACCT
Thursday, November 06
Coach's Corner with Bill Belichick - Episode 9 - November 5, 2025
Wednesday, November 05
Carolina Stories: The Reese Brantmeier Project
Wednesday, November 05