CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Tech H₂Okies dropped its first meet of the season in men’s and women’s swimming and diving action Wednesday evening against in-state rival Virginia. The men lost to the Cavaliers 189-108, while the women fell to Virginia 188-110. For the H₂Okie women sophomore diver Sarah Milton led the team with first-place finishes in the 1- and 3-meter dive events, while sophomore Stephen Hawkins captured a first-place finish in the 50 free and a third-place showing in the 100 free to guide the men. Milton broke the 3-meter dive record she previously set in 2007, with a score of 310.42.

As the meet kicked off, the H₂Okies scored in the 200 medley relay event for the women’s squad. The team of seniors Jordan McHorney, Sara Smith, Megan Newell and junior Jessica Earl posted a third-place finish and completed the race in 1:44.53 to score two points.

In the 200 free and 200 back, junior Kelly deMarrais posted a third-place finish for the women, crossing the line in 1:51.26 and 2:02.10, respectively. Classmate, Earl took third in the 100 and 200 breast events to score six additional points for Tech. Earl touched in with a time of 1:05.60 in the 100 and finished the 200 in 2:21.03.

McHorney and sophomore Steffi Drechsel tied for second in the 50 free. The duo was awarded a combined seven points while finishing the race in 24.06. Smith won the 100 free for the second time in as many meets. The senior touched in at 50.66 for the H₂Okies, with teammate Drechsel crossing the line in 51.93 to claim third place.

In diving action, Tech went one, two and three in both events. In both the 1- and 3-meter action Milton garnered first place followed by fellow sophomore Natalie West and freshman Cara Murnan, respectively, totaling 32 points.

Meanwhile for the men, senior Ian deToll, junior Chip Hughes, and sophomores Zach Holmes and Hawkins captured first in the 400 free relay, while in the 200 medley relay deToll, junior Jonathan Huss, sophomore Richard Ulatowski and freshman Charlie Higgins swam to a second-place finish. The 400 free relay squad touched in with a time of 3:03.18 while the 200 medley relay foursome crossed the line 1:31.54.

Freshman Blake Trabuchi-Downey raced in the 1650 free event, touching in with a time of 15:44.64 to claim third place for the H₂Okies. Hughes tallied three individual points, capturing third place, as well, and touched in with a time of 1:42.26.

Higgins, meanwhile, captured second place in the 100 back and third in the 200 back for the H₂Okies. The freshman finished the race in 50.51, and 1:51.97, respectively. His relay teammate Huss swam the 100 breast in 58.21 to capture third place and three points.

In the men’s 50 free race Tech went one, two, and three to capture 16 points. Hawkins touched in with a time of 20.97, while Ulatowski finished second in 21.13, followed by deToll who missed out on second place by .02 seconds.

In men’s diving action junior Mikey McDonald claimed first in the 3-meter event and second place in the 1-meter event. The junior tallied 13 points on the day.

Next up for the Hokies is a home meet at War Memorial Pool against ACC foe Clemson on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.