After a week off, the Pacific Tigers are back in action this weekend when they host the Pacific Invitational October 19-20. The two-day event starts at 2:00 p.m. on Friday and will resume the following day at noon. Along with the Tigers, Big West foe UC Davis will also be competing in the multi-team meet. Last season the Tigers placed third (women) and fourth (men) in their home meet, while the Aggies were close behind in fourth (women) and fifth (men).
UC Davis' men's team is coming off a win over UC Santa Barbara, while the women's program picked up two wins last week against UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State. Pacific got off to a rocky start with both squads falling to California in the Tigers' opening meet back on October 5.
Big West Teams Open Season In Win Column
Last weekend the UC Davis Aggies swept the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs with scores of 165-120 (men) and 251-46 (women). The women's squad also faced San Jose State and posted a 166-132 victory over the Spartans.
Also competing last week was the UC Santa Barbara women's program, who competed in a tri-meet with UCLA and Oregon State. The Gauchos defeated the Beavers with a score of 155-107, but struggled against the Bruins and posted a 102-160 loss.
UC Davis returns to the pool this week to compete in the Pacific Invitational, while UC Santa Barbara takes the week off.
UC Irvine Holds Ranking In Mid-Major Poll
In 2006-07, the UC Irvine men's team concluded the season ranked 13th in the collegeswimming.com mid-major poll. The Anteaters spent most of the year on the elite list, ranking as high as 10th. This season the Big West Conference defending champion begins the season ranked 18th. UC Irvine, led by 2006-07 Big West Men's Coach of the Year Brian Pajer, hosts its first meet of the 2007-08 season - Lincoln Aquatics Shootout - on November 2-3.
Leading the way for the Anteaters are Eddie Erazo and 2006-07 Big West Men's Swimmer of the Year Randall Tom, who both return for their senior years following impressive showings at the NCAA Championships.