Wildcats Host Southern California Rivals for First Pac-10 Competition of the Season

This Week in the Pool ?- The Arizona men’s and women’s diving teams are set to host three southern California schools this weekend for the first Pac-10 Competition of the season.

The Wildcats will take on the top-ranked USC Trojans Friday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. (MST) at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. On Saturday, Nov. 19, the women will compete against No. 7 UCLA while the men take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at 12 p.m.

A Look at the Opponents ?- The USC women’s squad are currently ranked 10^th as they come to Tucson for their first dual-meet of the season. The women of Troy last competed on Oct. 28-29 in Stockton, Calif. at the University of Pacific Invitational and were lead by junior Cait Connealy who won the 100 freestyle and took second in the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

The USC men’s team last competed on Nov. 11 at home against Texas. The men fell to the Longhorns 143-157, and currently post a No. 8 national ranking with a 0-1 overall record (0-0 Pac-10).

The UCLA women’s team is currently ranked seventh with a 4-0 overall record (1-0 Pac-10). The Bruins last competed at the SMU Classic where they finished third with 302 points.

The UCSB men’s squad recently defeated UC San Diego on Nov. 11, defeating the Tritons 167-92. The Gauchos currently post a 1-1 overall record (0-0 Big West).

Arizona and So-Cal History ?- In the past six years of competition, the Wildcats post winning records in the series against southern California rivals USC and UCLA. The men are 4-3 against USC while the women are 5-2. Against UCLA, the women are 6-1.

Arizona in the Rankings - According to the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll, the Wildcats are currently ranked in the top-six for the second consecutive year. Though both teams finished third at the 2005 NCAA championships, and upset several top-ranked teams, the men post a No. 5 ranking behind Michigan while the women’s team is ranked sixth behind No. 5 California.

Arizona’s last time in the water ?- The Arizona men’s and women’s diving teams traveled to Los Angeles, Calif. on Nov. 11-12 to compete in the Trojan Diving Invitational at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium. The Wildcats finished competition posting one individual victory for both sides.

Senior Tiffany Manning won the 3-meter competition with 269.95 points just ahead of UCLA's Marisa Samaniego (267.95). Manning also placed second on in the 1-meter with 285.85 points behind USC's Blythe Hartley.

Junior Megan MacDonald placed 14^th with 200.20 points and freshman Allison Scaife finished 16^th (196.30).

On the Men’s side, senior John Collier won the 1-meter competition with 333.15 points ahead of Texas's Bailey Gao. In the 3-meter competition, Collier and Gao switched places as Collier finished second with 348.85 points.

Arizona’s Next Action ?- The Swimming and Diving teams will resume competition on Dec. 1-3 when they travel to Austin, Texas for the annual Texas Longhorn Invitational.

Wildcats Host Southern California Rivals for First Pac-10 Competition of the Season

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