FGCU S&D vs Vanderbilt Preview

The FGCU swimming & diving team (4-0, 4-0 CCSA) is preparing for its home opener, as the team is set to host Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1 SEC) in a 4 p.m. meet on Friday, Oct. 25 at the FGCU Aquatics Complex. During the meet, the Eagles will be honoring Cancer Awareness Night and fans are invited to participate in a pink out. "Together, we are stronger than cancer" shirts will be on sale for $15.

After the meet, attendees are encouraged to head over to Alico Arena for Dunk City After Dark, the annual FGCU Hoops kickoff event. Doors open at 6 p.m. and fans can click here for more information.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles had a few weeks off after opening the season with a pair of meets on the road in Jacksonville, Fla. and Statesboro, Ga. against CCSA opponents. The Eagles swept both UNF (185-76) and Campbell (133-128) on Friday, Oct. 4 and then carried the momentum through the following day as the team cruised past Georgia Southern (172-70) and Campbell (146-94).

The team's 4-0 mark is the best record at the start of a season since 2015.

After capturing both the 1M and 3M titles in her collegiate debut, freshman Reese Wakefield took home the Green and Blue's first weekly honor of the season, earning CCSA Diver of the Week (Oct. 7). FGCU received Diver of the Week honors five times throughout last season.

Junior Petra Halmai led the swimmers over the course of the Eagles' opening weekend, picking up four first-place finishes in individual events, as well as contributing to a relay win. She currently leads the CCSA with times in both the 200 fly (2:04.79) and the 200 breast (2:20.06).

In addition to the excitement of earning back-to-back sweeps, multiple FGCU rookies picked up first-place individual finishes in their collegiate debuts. Hannah VanDress took home the 1000-yard freestyle in both meets, while Kaja Reinhardt won the 500 Free in the meet against Campbell and UNF.

Scouting Vanderbilt:
Friday's tilt will mark the first time the Eagles and the Commodores have faced off in a dual meet.

Vanderbilt dropped its season-opener against conference foe Alabama (Oct. 5) by a score of 146-105. The Commodores won four of the meet's 16 events, three of which were individual events. The team also took home the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Vanderbilt was able to pick up its first win of the season during a tri-meet on the road in Michigan (Oct. 11). The Commodores downed Milwaukee by a decisive score of 207-81 before falling to host Oakland 176-118.

Sophomore Lizzy Colwell has picked up three first-place finishes so far this season, the most of any Commodore. Classmate Tonner Debeer has also contributed significant points to the team, tallying a pair of first-place finishes.

Last season, Vanderbilt finished the 2018-19 season at the SEC Championships, where the team finished in 12th place (153 points). The Commodores do not have a diving team and their roster is fairly evenly split between classes.

FGCU S&D vs Power 5:
FGCU holds a 19-22 record against Power 5 Conference teams with a 13-13 record against the ACC, and are looking for their first win a SEC team as they are 0-5.