AUBURN, Ala. – In the first home meet of the 2019-20 season, the Auburn swimming and diving teams will welcome LSU to the James E. Martin Aquatics Center for a dual meet on Saturday. The first events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CT.
The Auburn women, ranked No. 13 nationally, are coming off a second-place performance at the SMU Classic last weekend where they won a total of 11 events as a team.
Seniors Claire Fisch and Julie Meynen were among the standout performers for the Tigers. Meynen, in particular, was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Week after winning both of her finals in the 50 and 100 free. She set the meet and pool records in the 50 free and then swam the fastest time in the nation in the 100 free.
However, only nine student-athletes traveled to Dallas for last weekend's meet, so on Saturday the women will have their full team on hand and ready to compete.
"We're going to be together as a team," Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. "Last week was a little bit different situation. So now the entire team is there and involved and in our home pool. I'd like to believe that we're the best Tigers in the SEC, so for us, it's going out and proving that."
For the Auburn men, who come into the season ranked No. 25 in the CSCAA Top 25 men's poll, this will be their first competition of the 2019-20 season.
"On the men's side, you look at a team a year ago that I thought had just outstanding growth," Taylor said. "They really came together. They performed well. I know the outcome is not what we're used to at Auburn and certainly not with that men's program; however, I could not have been more proud of the heart, the effort and who they became.
"Our men are embracing this opportunity and looking to take that next step. It's important for us to learn how to win again, and this is our first opportunity this weekend in our home pool."
Auburn and LSU will compete in 11 swimming and two diving events. The swimming events will be, in order: the 200 medley relay, 1,000 free, 200 free, 50 free, 400 IM, 100 fly, 100 free, 100 back, 500 free, 100 breast and 400 free relay.
The divers will compete in the 1m and 3m competition, and it's a clash of brothers with Auburn diving coach Jeff Shaffer going against his brother, LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer.
"You talk about two of the deans of the SEC conference on the diving side," Taylor said. "Jeff and his brother, there's not only a longevity piece, they've both been really successful and they've got good divers again this season."
Live stats for the meet will be available through auburntigers.com and divemeets.com.