The Virginia Cavalier's first visit to Virginia Tech in nine years proved successful as the 14th-ranked Cav's combined to win 19 of 26 events against the intrastate rival. The Cavalier men won 11 events in posting a 134-102 victory, while the UVa women won eight events in a 135-108 victory over the 22nd-ranked Hokies. With the wins, the UVa men's and women's teams both earned a point in the Commonwealth Challenge, presented by Adelphia. Both Virginia squads improve to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC while recording their 18th consecutive wins over Virginia Tech dating back to the 1982-83 season.

In the men's 134-102 victory over Virginia Tech (1-5 overall, 1-5 ACC), UVa won 11 of 13 events with three Cavaliers earning multiple individual event victories. Fourth-year Fran Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa./Germantown Academy) won the 1000 and 500 freestyles, with times of 9:11.61 and 4:29.64, respectively. Crippen led a top-three UVa sweep in the 1000 free with third-year John Millen (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview) coming in second (9:35.25). Millen was also runner-up to Crippen in the 500 free with a time of 4:34.34. Second-year Pat Mellors (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) touched first in both the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke. He won the 200 I.M. with a time of 1:52.24 and posted a winning time of 1:51.43 in the 200 back. Third-year Andrew Barber (Vienna, Va./ Marshall) was the third Cavalier to capture two individual events as he swept the one and three-meter diving competitions with scores of 288.30 and 275.92, respectively.

In addition to two runner-up finishes to Crippen, Millen captured the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:41.13. Third-year Stefan Hirniak (Highland Park, N.J./Princeton Day) was second in the 200 free (1:41.56) and he also won the 200 butterfly (1:49.67). UVa exhibitioned the 200 breaststroke and second-year Ryan Hurley (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep) turned in the top time at 2:03.63, while third-year Vanja Rogulj (Zagreb, Croatia/ Split) posted a time of 2:03.91. Virginia opened the meet by winning the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:24.48. First-year Bjorn Falk (Wilton, N.H./High Mowing), Rogulj, first-year Lee Robertson (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro), and third-year Greg Imboden (Chattanooga, Tenn./McCallie) all swam legs on the relay. UVa exhibitioned the final event of the meet, the 400 free relay, and turned in the top time (3:07.13) with fourth-year Ethan McCoy (McMinnville, Ore./McMinnville), Imboden, Crippen and Hirniak all swimming legs.

The 14th-ranked UVa women began their 135-108 win over the 22nd-ranked Hokies (5-2, 4-2 ACC) by winning the first three events, including a pair of one-two finishes. Fourth-year Rachael Burke (Bethesda Md./ Good Counsel) won a pair of events and led Virginia's first one-two finish when she clocked a time of 10:04.01 in winning the 1000 freestyle. Third-year Rory Schmidt (Phoenix, Ariz./Arcadia) finished second in the 1000 free (10:08.59). Burke and Schmidt also took the top two spots in the 500 free with Burke again leading the way with a time of 4:57.15, while Schmidt touched second (5:00.00). The foursome of fourth-year Brielle White (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside School), second-year Anna Steenrod (Charlotte, N.C/Charlotte Latin), fourth-year Elaine Bennett (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) and second-year Jess Lewis (Allentown, Pa./ Parkland) opened the meet by winning the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:46.63.

White led a top-three UVa sweep in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:02.24. Fourth-year Katie Gordon (Winter Park, Fla./Trinity Prep) was second (2:04.32) and fourth-year Corey Berg (Hyde Park, N.Y./F.D. Roosevelt) was third (2:05.78). Bennett grabbed the top spot in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:03.16 and finished second to third-year Jenny Steiner (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:19.05. Steiner posted a time of 2:18.18 to win the 200 breast. Third-year Katy Bland (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville) touched in 1:51.93 to win the 200 free and Burke was second (1:54.96). First-year Jackie Apple (New Albany, Ohio/ New Albany) won the one-meter diving competition with 255.07 points and was second on the three-meter board (254.02 points).

Tech Freshman Sara Smith (McGaheysville, Va.) led the Hokie women with event victories in the 100-yard freestyle and 200 IM to score 18 of Tech's 108 points. Smith broke her own pool record in the 200 IM, posting a time of 2:04.62, just missing the NCAA 'B' cut again. Smith did achieve her third 'B' time of the season in the 100, however, completing the event in 50.86 seconds.

Junior Mason Walsh (Herndon, Va.) and senior Laura Lunn (Regina, Sask.), also posted event victories Wednesday. Walsh's time of 23.19 in the 50 freestyle was her second-fastest of the season, and earned her another NCAA 'B' cut. While Lunn recorded a score of 266.69 in women's three-meter diving to win that event for the Hokies.

The Cavaliers return to action November 11-12 when they host Auburn, Penn State and Purdue in a two-day meet at the UVa Aquatic and Fitness Center. The swimming portion of meet begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. with diving commencing at 2:00 p.m. The Hokies will be in action again on Nov. 17, when the teams travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Nike Cup. Tech will compete against host UNC, as well as a host of top non-conference opponents.