By Gavin Lapaille

The University of Louisville men and women’s swim teams competed in dual meets the past two weekends against instate rivals University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University. The No. 31 women’s team split the two meets, while the men were defeated both times. The women’s record now stands at 10-2 while the men are 3-9.

“This was certainly a good challenge in terms of lineup and preparation for the Big East,” said U of L head coach Arthur Albiero. “Times is what swimming is judged by, but I look at the overall picture and I am very pleased with where we are right now.”

Against UK, neither the U of L men nor women were able to pull off victories at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, with the women losing 170-125 and the men falling 181-106. The women’s team did win four events on the day, including two wins by senior Heather Meng. Meng, a Big East Champion from last season, won both the 100 and 200-breast. Sophomore Abby Miller took home the gold in the 400-IM in a time of 4:28.52, while freshman Amanda Henleben also came out victorious for the Cards. Henleben won the 1000-free by just .92 seconds with a strong finish over UK’s Haleigh Kearns in the longest race of the day.

On the men’s side, diver Robbie Lewis won the three-meter board after scoring a 318.83, just one day after setting a new school record in the event against Wright State University. All-American sophomore Vali Preda also swam to a victory for the men, touching first in the 400-IM with a time of 4:01.93.

“We want to beat them in every thing we do,” said Albiero on the rivalry with UK. “They were ready for us and they knew it was going to be a challenge. I told our group we have 364 days until the next one. We definitely will be circling our calendar.”

At Western the following Saturday, the women’s team defeated the Hilltoppers 189-111, while the men fell 189-110. The U of L women had several event winners, including three multi-event winners. Henleben won her second 1000-free in a row and also added a victory in the 500-free. Junior Melaine Greyling won the 100-free and 200-free, while junior Johanna Nyysti won the 100-breast, and Meng topped the competition in the 200-breast.

Preda led the men’s team with three victories, coming out on top in the 100 and 200-breast, and the 100-IM. Lewis also recorded two victories for the Cards, sweeping both the one and three-meter boards, while Rafal Kuchta won the 200-fly in a time of 1:51.55. However, it was not enough to top the undefeated Hilltoppers.

“Western is a touch place to come in and compete,” said Albiero. “They really maximize their home court advantage.”

The men and women’s team have one more meet before the Big East Championship. They take on Big East rival Notre Dame at the Ralph Wright Natatorium in the last home meet of the season on Sat., Feb. 3.