The University of Louisville’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving team is gearing up to face off against the University of Notre Dame on Friday, November 3rd at 3:30 PM. The highly anticipated matchup will take place at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.
The No. 12/3-ranked Louisville Cardinals have been on a break since their last meet on October 12th against the University of Tennessee. The meet proved to be a thrilling one, with the men’s team pulling off a stunning upset by defeating the No. 6-ranked Tennessee team with a final score of 156-144. On the other hand, the women’s team narrowly missed out on a victory, falling to the Lady Vols by a close margin of 152-148 at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
The meet against Tennessee was unique as it was contested in Long Course Meters (LCM), which is the standard format for the Olympics and other world events. Despite the challenging conditions, several Cardinals shone brightly. Swimmer Jackson Millard impressed by sweeping both backstroke events, while Denis Petrashov dominated the breaststroke events. Ilia Sibirtsev stood out in the distance events, claiming victory in both events. On the women’s side, Gabi Albiero showcased her skills by winning the 50M and 100M freestyle events. Diver Else Praasterink also had an exceptional performance, securing first place in both the 1M and 3M springboard events. Paige Hetrick emerged victorious in the 100M butterfly and played crucial roles in both winning relays, along with Ella Welch and Christiana Regenauer.
The No. 17-ranked Notre Dame men’s team recently triumphed over Pittsburgh by a slim margin of 177.5-175.5. They also dominated Penn State with a commanding score of 257-96. Meanwhile, the Notre Dame women’s team secured victories against both Pittsburgh and Penn State. They defeated Pittsburgh 194-159 and overwhelmed Penn State with an impressive score of 232.5-120.5. Giuliano, a standout swimmer for the Irish, showcased his versatility and skills across a variety of events, including the 50M and 100M freestyle, the 200M freestyle, and several relays.
With both teams coming off strong performances, the upcoming meet between Louisville and Notre Dame promises to be a highly competitive and exciting event. Fans can expect to witness some exceptional swimming and diving as these talented athletes go head to head in the pool.
