Virginia will play host to the competition, as Clemson and Virginia Tech will also be represented.
Head coach Bill Dorenkott stressed the importance of the upcoming meet but confessed that he doesn't really need to give his players a huge pep talk.
"I probably don't spend as much time with my players as I should," he said. "It's been my feeling that during the season, you are given a six-shooter, and you have to choose when the right times are to use those bullets. Even though there is no pep talk, I expect my players to race tough this weekend."
Although Dorenkott will probably save most of those "bullets" for the Big Ten tournament and NCAA Championships later on in the season, this is an excellent opportunity for the team to defeat some of the top schools along the East Coast.
Last season the Lions finished at No. 19, including repeating as Big Ten champs. Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Clemson however all finished within the top 40 too, with Virginia finishing 23rd, Clemson 28th, and Virginia Tech 36th.
Some coaches think that teams can improve most in the first few weeks of the season. While Dorenkott doesn't disagree with that thought, he maintained the importance of consistency and not to get too worked up over each week's match.
"For some players, our season is 24 weeks long," he said. "A swimming season is a marathon, and we are always looking at our main goal, which is to be successful and achieve our goals."
Those goals include capturing yet another Big Ten title, as well as having tremendous success at the NCAA Championships. But with a competitive meet this weekend, the Lions can look at this weekend as another step toward that bigger goal.
