Breakthrough wins lead Vols to victory

By News Sentinel staff
Published Saturday, October 31, 2009

Two Vols swam to their first career victories as Tennessee scored a 180-120 swimming and diving victory over SEC-rival Kentucky on Friday at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.

With the win, Tennessee (3-0, 2-0 SEC) extended its winning streak against the Wildcats to 35 dual meets. Kentucky hasn't beaten UT since 1952.

UT's Carl Jones scored his first win be taking the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9 minutes, 34.77 seconds.

Patrick Beasley's breakthrough win came in the 200 butterfly in 1:52.44.

"Those are two athletes who work incredibly hard,'' UT coach John Trembley said. "I'm very proud of those two."

Entering the meet as the nation's fastest 100 backstroker, Ricky Henahan, the SEC swimmer of the week, remained unbeaten in the event (49.03).

Brad Craig, who swam a leg of the winning 200 medley, also won two individual events, taking the 100 breaststroke (55.93) and 200 breast (2:01.03).

Tennessee's Ryan Helms swept both diving events. On the three-meter, Helms had a college-best and pool record 418.58. He a season-best 346.80 in the one-meter.

Women's Swimming: The Lady Vols opened their home season in dominant fashion, winning 12 events and beating Kentucky, 193-103.

Five Lady Vols - Alex Barsanti, Michele King, Jenny Connolly, Tori Richmond and Kelsey Floyd - each won a pair of events for Tennessee (2-1, 2-0 SEC).

"I thought we came out in the first half of the meet and swam really aggressively,'' Lady Vols coach Matt Kredich. "We swam how we have been practicing and how we expect ourselves to swim. Kelsey Floyd was a star once again and it was great to have Alex and Tori back. They had spectacular meets."

Floyd, who's from Lexington, Ky., won the 1,000 free (10:13.28), the 200 back (2:00.88) and was second in the 100 back (56.31) against her hometown school.

Connolly extended her undefeated streak in the 100 back and 100 fly, beating Kentucky All-American Megan Pulskamp in the latter event.

Men's Tennis: John-Patrick Smith and Matt Brewer each won two matches to reach the semifinals of the top flight of the Crimson Tide Fall Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Smith, the nation's No. 2 ranked player, extended his winning streak to 12 matches, beating Tennessee Tech's Alex Chen 6-1, 6-3 and Georgia Southern's Juan Melian-Puigventos, 6-1, 6-4.

Brewer improved to 8-4 by beating Vanderbilt's Adam Baker 7-5, 6-1 and overcoming Garner Webb's Evgeny Slesarev, who retired with Brewer leading 5-7, 6-4, 3-1.

Played ended early because of rain. Because of the weather, no Vols competed in doubles.

Volleyball: Despite dropping the first game, Tennessee (16-6, 9-3 SEC) scored a 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 victory at Ole Miss.

Kayla Jeter recorded a match-high 17 kills with all but one occurring in the final three games.

Nikki Fowler had 12 kills and 11 digs against Ole Miss (8-15, 2-11). Natalie Guerra had a career-high 25 assists.

"Mississippi is a very hard place to get comfortable because the fans are right on top of our players and there isn't much room to maneuver around the court,'' Lady Vols coach Rob Patrick said. "Although we started off the match unorganized, we were able to right the ship."