Oct. 27, 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy swimming and diving programs will open their respective home seasons Friday when the Midshipmen play host to Virginia in a 4 p.m. dual meet in Lejeune Hall.

The two Navy teams picked up victories last week over UMBC. The Mids combined to win 23 of 32 events on the day as the men posted a 157-132 win over the Retrievers and the women won a 150-144 decision. The victories allowed the Navy men's squad to remain undefeated through three meets this year and the women's team to improve to 2-1 on the young season.

Both Virginia programs will be competing in their first dual meets of the 2011-12 season. Each has won four consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference titles, while the men placed eighth and the women 13th at their respective 2011 NCAA Championship meets.

The Navy men travelled to Charlottesville, Va., last year to face the Cavaliers in a dual meet. Virginia won 11 events on the day to post a 156-136 victory over the Mids.

Both Mark Meyer (Sr., Bethesda, Md.) and Mac Anthony (Sr., Allentown, Pa.) recorded individual event wins for the Mids during last year's meet. Meyer posted a time of 1:49.40 to win the 200 fly by nearly one second and Anthony's time of 4:29.22 gave him the victory in the 500 free by seven-tenths of a second. Additionally during the meet, Anthony placed second in the 200 free, Luke Hoffer (So., Chapel Hill, N.C.) finished in second place in both breaststroke races and Robbie Parker (Jr., Vienna, Va.) was the runner-up in the 50 free.

"This is an excellent opportunity to race and compete with one of the most consistent programs in Division I swimming and diving," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "They are always well coached and prepared to lead the way in the water. We are enthusiastic about this meet and the chance to measure ourselves against the Virginia program."

The women's teams from the two schools last faced each other two seasons ago in Annapolis. Virginia emerged from that day's meet with a 160-128 win.

"Virginia is a great team," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison. "At this moment in time, they have dominated the ACC and are consistently knocking on the door of the top 10 at NCAA's. We are looking forward to the challenge of competing against one of the best teams in the country."