Tennessee coach ​Matt Kredich​ and the Volunteers (No. 15 women/No. 20 men) host ​Jack Bauerle​ and the No. 3/5 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday for the Vols' Senior Day at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center. Fortunately for the UT seniors, this will not be the last time they race in their home pool as Tennessee will play host to the 2017 Southeastern Conference Championships on February 14-18.​
 
The Volunteers will have their hands full with a powerful Bulldogs squad on both sides. The Georgia women, who just had their streak of 103 straight home dual meet wins snapped by Texas last weekend, are the defending NCAA champions, while the UGA men have a slew of U.S. Olympians, including ​Chase Kalisz​​, Gunnar Bentz, and Jay Litherland.

Important Meet Info & Links

Location: Knoxville, TN
Time: 11 AM CST
Live Results

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5 Swimmers to Watch

Olivia Smoliga (Georgia)

Smoliga, a senior, has been a staple for the Bulldogs in the sprint freestyle and backstroke events during her career. She claimed the "fastest woman in the NCAA" crown last season, winning the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships with a blazing-fast ​21.21.​ She followed that performance up with a B-final victory in the 100 backstroke in ​50.58​, which would have placed second had she been in the A-final. In her encore, she returning to winning form taking the victory in the 100 freestyle with a time of ​46.70. ​Not to be outdone, Smoliga was on fire at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she qualified for the 100m backstroke, earning a gold medal in Rio as a part of the 4x100m medley relay.

Chase Kalisz (Georgia)

Kalisz, who redshirted the 2015-16 season to train with ​Bob Bowman ​and ​Michael Phelps​ in Tempe, Arizona, for the U.S. Olympic Trials, has not missed a beat since returning from a silver medal performance in Rio in his signature event, the 400-yard IM. Kalisz is the NCAA record holder in the 400 IM with an unfathomable time of ​3:34.50​ from the 2014 NCAA Championships. He has already thrown down a long list of impressive swims this season, including the 100 breaststroke ​(52.31)​, 200 breaststroke ​(1:56.02), ​200 butterfly ​(1:40.38)​, 200 IM ​(1:44.20)​, and 400 IM ​(3:36.98).​

Meghan Small (Tennessee)

Small was recently named SEC Freshman of the Week for her performances in the 200 freestyle ​​(1:48.71)​ and 200 backstroke ​(1:57.77) ​at a dual meet with South Carolina. Small, an versatile swimmer, is a member of the U.S. national team for her silver medal at the 2015 Pan-American Games in the 200 IM ​and seventh-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the same event. Look for small to make a significant impact for the Vols over the next four years.

Jay Litherland (Georgia)

Litherland, of the Litherland triplets (Jay, Mick, and Kevin) who all swim for Georgia, is a 400 IM specialist with some very serious closing speed. Jay made a name for himself by taking the 400 IM crown at the 2015 World University Games. He rode that momentum through 2016, finishing third in his speciality event at the NCAA Championships and claiming an Olympic berth as well with teammate Kalisz. Litherland finished in fifth in Rio.

Sam McHugh (Tennessee)

McHugh claimed his second SEC Swimmer of the Week honor this season after a dominating performance at South Carolina, taking wins in the 1,650 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and 200 IM. McHugh, like Kalisz, is a talented IM/butterfly specialist who will give likely give Kalisz a run for his money. The Vols need McHugh to step up in a big way if they want to take down the Dawgs in Knoxville.

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