WVU Hosts Seton Hall, Xavier in Home Opener
October 18, 2018 02:04 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University swimming and diving teams open the 2018-19 home slate against Seton Hall and Xavier from Oct. 19-20, at the WVU Natatorium.
The Mountaineers welcome the two Big East Conference foes for a two-day meet, beginning on Friday with diving at 4 p.m. ET, before swimming events commence at 6 p.m. The meet continues on Saturday with diving at 10 a.m. and swimming at 11 a.m.
Admission is free on both days and parking will be available in the parking lots surrounding the WVU Coliseum and WVU Natatorium.
"The meet this weekend will provide a different opportunity than last week's," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "The format is a bit different and fun, which is designed so that we can really focus on one or two events each day. We're looking to see where we can make some improvements from last week. It's our only home meet of the fall, so bringing that excitement and energy will be important."
Friday marks the official opening of the final season at the WVU Natatorium for the Mountaineers, which has served as home for the squads since 1975. It's also the fourth consecutive season that Seton Hall and Xavier visit Morgantown.
WVU has swept the Pirates and Musketeers in each of the past three seasons. Last year, the Mountaineer men's team topped Seton Hall, 227-53, and Xavier, 224-53, while the women's team took down the Pirates, 217-63, and Musketeers, 198-79.
The Mountaineers last competed at the season-opening West Virginia State Games, from Oct. 12-13, in Huntington, West Virginia. The two teams combined to win 39 of 40 total events at the two-day meet, which was hosted by Marshall at the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium.
Sophomore David Dixon led WVU with 10 total victories at the in-state competition, including five individual wins, and he helped the men's team finish first at the meet for the eighth consecutive season. Dixon won the 200 individual medley in 1:51.23 and the 100 butterfly in 48.87, before he took the 400 IM (4:05.60), 200 breaststroke (2:04.63) and 200 fly (1:47.04).
The Richmond, Virginia, native and 2018 NCAA Championships qualifier also helped the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays and 200 and 400 medley relay teams to wins.
With the performance, Dixon was named the Big 12 Men's Swimmer of the Week on Wednesday, the second in-season conference distinction of his career.
Additionally, freshman Nick Cover and senior Averly Hobbs were named the Big 12 Men's and Women's Divers of the Week, respectively. Cover made his collegiate debut at the West Virginia State Games, earning a win on 1-meter with an NCAA Zones-qualifying score of 317.55. Hobbs earned a sweep on springboard last weekend, winning on 1-meter with a Zones-qualifying score of 275.25 and on 3-meter with score of 270.75.
Junior Morgan Bullock also won 10 total events, including five individual races, leading the Mountaineer women to their seventh win in eight years at the State Games. The Zeeland, Michigan, native and 2018 honorable mention All-American earned wins in the 200 IM (2:05.36), 100 fly (56.46), 200 free (1:53.42), 100 free (53.10) and 200 fly (2:04.77), and she helped all five relay teams to wins.
Seton Hall is led by second-year coach Derek Sapp. The 2017-18 Co-Big East Women's Coach of the Year served as a graduate assistant at West Virginia from 2011-13.
The Pirates began the season by splitting a dual meet against Rider on Oct. 6, as the women's team prevailed, 170-126, while the men's team fell, 163-137. Both teams topped Montclair State on Oct. 12.
Brent MacDonald is in his 12th season at the helm of the Xavier swimming and diving program. The Musketeer women's team is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Akron Invite on Oct. 12-13, while the men placed sixth at the event. The Xavier women also went 4-0 to open the season at the Butler Quad (Sept. 30), while the men's team went 2-1, before both teams fell to Louisville in a dual meet on Oct. 6.
Following this weekend's meet, the Mountaineers will return to the road to take on Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 27. Originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., the meet will now begin with diving at 9:45 a.m., while swimming events will start at 11 a.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Mountaineers welcome the two Big East Conference foes for a two-day meet, beginning on Friday with diving at 4 p.m. ET, before swimming events commence at 6 p.m. The meet continues on Saturday with diving at 10 a.m. and swimming at 11 a.m.
Admission is free on both days and parking will be available in the parking lots surrounding the WVU Coliseum and WVU Natatorium.
"The meet this weekend will provide a different opportunity than last week's," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "The format is a bit different and fun, which is designed so that we can really focus on one or two events each day. We're looking to see where we can make some improvements from last week. It's our only home meet of the fall, so bringing that excitement and energy will be important."
Friday marks the official opening of the final season at the WVU Natatorium for the Mountaineers, which has served as home for the squads since 1975. It's also the fourth consecutive season that Seton Hall and Xavier visit Morgantown.
WVU has swept the Pirates and Musketeers in each of the past three seasons. Last year, the Mountaineer men's team topped Seton Hall, 227-53, and Xavier, 224-53, while the women's team took down the Pirates, 217-63, and Musketeers, 198-79.
The Mountaineers last competed at the season-opening West Virginia State Games, from Oct. 12-13, in Huntington, West Virginia. The two teams combined to win 39 of 40 total events at the two-day meet, which was hosted by Marshall at the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium.
Sophomore David Dixon led WVU with 10 total victories at the in-state competition, including five individual wins, and he helped the men's team finish first at the meet for the eighth consecutive season. Dixon won the 200 individual medley in 1:51.23 and the 100 butterfly in 48.87, before he took the 400 IM (4:05.60), 200 breaststroke (2:04.63) and 200 fly (1:47.04).
The Richmond, Virginia, native and 2018 NCAA Championships qualifier also helped the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays and 200 and 400 medley relay teams to wins.
With the performance, Dixon was named the Big 12 Men's Swimmer of the Week on Wednesday, the second in-season conference distinction of his career.
Additionally, freshman Nick Cover and senior Averly Hobbs were named the Big 12 Men's and Women's Divers of the Week, respectively. Cover made his collegiate debut at the West Virginia State Games, earning a win on 1-meter with an NCAA Zones-qualifying score of 317.55. Hobbs earned a sweep on springboard last weekend, winning on 1-meter with a Zones-qualifying score of 275.25 and on 3-meter with score of 270.75.
Junior Morgan Bullock also won 10 total events, including five individual races, leading the Mountaineer women to their seventh win in eight years at the State Games. The Zeeland, Michigan, native and 2018 honorable mention All-American earned wins in the 200 IM (2:05.36), 100 fly (56.46), 200 free (1:53.42), 100 free (53.10) and 200 fly (2:04.77), and she helped all five relay teams to wins.
Seton Hall is led by second-year coach Derek Sapp. The 2017-18 Co-Big East Women's Coach of the Year served as a graduate assistant at West Virginia from 2011-13.
The Pirates began the season by splitting a dual meet against Rider on Oct. 6, as the women's team prevailed, 170-126, while the men's team fell, 163-137. Both teams topped Montclair State on Oct. 12.
Brent MacDonald is in his 12th season at the helm of the Xavier swimming and diving program. The Musketeer women's team is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Akron Invite on Oct. 12-13, while the men placed sixth at the event. The Xavier women also went 4-0 to open the season at the Butler Quad (Sept. 30), while the men's team went 2-1, before both teams fell to Louisville in a dual meet on Oct. 6.
Following this weekend's meet, the Mountaineers will return to the road to take on Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 27. Originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., the meet will now begin with diving at 9:45 a.m., while swimming events will start at 11 a.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
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