Oct. 20, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland swimming and diving team opens with a pair of ACC opponents this weekend as the Terps welcome NC State Friday and Duke Saturday. Friday's action is set to begin at 3 p.m. and Saturday's meet is slated for 1 p.m. at Eppley Recreation Natatorium.

Friday's meet against NC State is Maryland's official `Race for the Cure' event. The first 100 fans will receive a pink wristband in support of breast cancer awareness month.

2011 Preseason Preview
• Youth Movement: 2011-12 Men's Season Preview
• Making Waves: 2011-12 Women's Season Preview

Opponent notes:

NC STATE

• The NC State men come into Friday's action after a season-opening 155-145 loss last week at Virginia Tech. The women fell to Virginia Tech 85-55 and topped James Madison 91-49.

• Last year, both teams finished eighth in the final conference standings.

• Former five-time All-American alum Braden Holloway takes over the head coaching duties from the departed Brooks Teal. The associate head coach at Virginia Tech since 2008, he was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.

• The Wolfpack men are led by junior Brandon Kingston and sophomore Jonathan Boffa. Both won two events last week against Virginia Tech - Kingston in the 500 and 1000 freestyle and Boffa in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Kingston was also an ACC Performer of the Week recipient last season. The women's strength lies in diving where juniors Hannah Hopkins and Kirstyn Shepler lead the team after placing seventh and eighth, respectively, on platform at last year's NCAA Zone B Diving Meet.

DUKE

• The Blue Devils open their season this weekend coming off of very successful campaigns for both the men's and women's teams. Both teams placed in the NCAA Championships with the women finishing 28th and the men finishing 18th, the highest national finish in program history.

• Duke head coach Dan Colella is entering his seventh season at the school after a 12-year run as head coach of the women's swimming program at the University of Tennessee.

• Duke's men's team will be led senior Ben Tuben and junior Ben Hwang, who both earned All-ACC honors as members of Duke's ACC Champion 200 freestyle relay team. Sophomore Christine Wixted and juniors Francesca Tocci and Cara Vogel will lead the women's unit. Wixted broke four program records including her fourth place finish in the 200 breaststroke at the ACCs. Tocci and Vogel were standouts in the 100 and 200 backstroke for Duke last season.

• Duke will be without its star divers this season as they prepare for the Olympic trials next summer. Nick McCrory is the reigning NCAA Champion in platform diving and this summer won the 10-meter event at the AT&T National Diving Championships. Abby Johnston finished sixth in the 1-meter springboard competition at this summer's FINA World Championships, and 2008 Olympian and Duke freshman Haley Ishimatsu will not compete this season, instead focusing on regaining her place on the US team next summer. Both McCrory and Johnston are seeking their first Olympic team selections.