It will be deja vu when the women's swimming and diving team goes on the road against No. 11 Virginia at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Last season, at McCoy Natatorium, the Lady Cavaliers ended the Lady Lions nine-meet winning streak with a 165.5-132.5 victory.

Once again, the Lady Lions (6-1) enter the meet on a hot streak. After an opening meet loss to North Carolina, the team has reeled off six consecutive wins. The latest victory was a 177.5-122.5 win at Pittsburgh. Virginia, under Coach Mark Berenardino, enters the meet with a 4-1 record, including a victory over the Lady Panthers. Clemson handed the Lady Cavaliers its lone loss of the season.

The two teams and coaches have mutual respect for each other. Coach Bob Krimmel is wary of the opposition, but is confident that his team will be ready.

"They're the most talented team we've met this year," Krimmel said. "We should be real focused. It's down there, so it should be a real battle."

Berenardino felt equally excited about the meet, but not about facing Penn State.

"I wish we didn't have to face Penn State this weekend, because there a damn good team," Berenardino said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to give them a good meet."

Senior co-captain Kristin Lilly will lead the Lady Lions once again. Lilly is coming off wins at Pitt in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle and was a member of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Also a member of the 200 medley relay was freshman Jen Baird, who is coming off her best performance of the season. Baird, who was recruited by Virginia, won the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 medley.

The Lady Cavaliers counter with Melaine Valerio (freestyle), Karen Burgess (freestyle/individual medley), Lori Worth (individual medley/butterfly) and Erin Jones (freestyle).

Injuries and health problems are starting to catch up to the team. The most serious concern is junior Christy Rourke, a member of the 400 freestyle relay team who has been suffering an aching back. Krimmel said that the status of Rourke for tomorrow is questionable.

"This is the time of year when you never have your whole team," Krimmel said.

The divers will look to rebound from last Saturday's meet, which was the first meet this season that the team did not pick up a win on either board. Coach Craig Brown is expecting a better performance tomorrow.

"I hope we have a little better meet than against Pittsburgh," Brown said. "We didn't adjust well to the pool conditions."

The team will have its big three diving. Lara von Seelan and Amy Schmidt have been consistent all season, but Brown is expecting a big meet from Kristen Tressler.

"She looked good last week," Brown said. "She's ready to pop a big meet, especially on the 3-meter board."

Even with all the national implications that this meet could hold, both Krimmel and Brown see it as just another meet to prepare for the Eastern Championships.