Tennessee Clinches CSL Championship Berth Behind Dominating Performance

Friday, October 23

Athens, Ga.

5:30 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

CSL Meet #2 (Alabama, Auburn, Georgia)

Lady Vols Celebrate Relay Victory in CSL Match

October 23, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving

ATHENS, Ga. -- Behind a dominating performance throughout the competition, No. 4/5 Tennessee swimming team won its match in the College Swimming League on Friday evening at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

The men and women combined to win 15 individual events, one relay, one Skins competition and one Super Skins en route to 668 points. Alabama finished in second (382), followed by Georgia (353) in third and Auburn (316) in fourth.

With the victory, Tennessee clinched a berth in the College Swimming League Championship match, which will be held Friday, Nov. 6 in Indianapolis, Ind. UT will be one of four teams that will advance to the championship, with Virginia and NC State also qualified. The fourth team will be decided on the Wild Card on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Charlotte Crush continued her impressive start to her collegiate career, breaking her own record in the 200 back she set earlier this month with a time of 1:48.31. It was one of four first place finishes for Crush, as she would get victories in the 100 back and 100 fly. The freshman also took the victory in the 50 Fly Skins, as her and Mizuki Hirai raced all the way to the final round of the skins event.

Crush also helped Tennessee set a school record in the 200 free relay alongside Camille Spink, Jillian Crooks and Leah Tigert. The quartet touched the wall in 1:25.66, establishing a new program-best time.

Spink earned victories in both the 50 and 100 free events, with her time of 45.91 in the 100 free setting a personal best and solidifying her spot as second-fastest swimmer in the event in program history. McKenzie Siroky also doubled up on individual wins on the night, sweeping the 100 and 200 breast.

Nikoli Blackman turned in multiple strong performances for the Big Orange, earning victories in the 50 and 100 free. The senior also anchored Tennessee's 4x50 medley Super Skins team, helping the Vols sweep all four rounds. Blackman was joined in the event by Ulises Saravia, Gabe Nunziata and Julian Koch.

Hirai made her first appearance of the season for Tennessee, earning a victory in the 100 IM and finishing second in the 100 fly. Emily Brown led the way in the 200 fly, touching the wall first in 1:53.44. The junior also won the 200 IM with a time of 1:55.00.

It was a busy night in the pool for Ella Jansen, who got top three finish in a trio of events, finishing second in the 100 and 200 IM, as well as third in the 500 free.

Nunziata and Andrew Eubanks helped Tennessee sweep the breaststroke events. Eubanks set a personal best in his win in the 100 breast on a time of 51.92, moving the freshman to ninth in program history. Eubanks also placed third in the 200 breast, with his time of 1:53.22 moving him up the UT record books to fifth all-time. Nunziata swam a 1:52.69 in the 200 breast on his way to a victory. Saravia recorded a win in the 100 Back, setting a CSL record in the event on a time of 45.15.

Women's Results

Madison Kryger earned a pair of top-three finishes, placing second in the 200 back and third in the 100 back.
Leah Tigert finished third in both the 100 and 200 free, recording times of 47.82 and 1:43.86, respectively. Her time in the 100 free ranks seventh in Tennessee history.
Jillian Crooks added points for the Lady Vols in the 50 free, placing third with a time of 21.78.

Men's Results

Lúcio Paula and Abduljabar Adama finished second and third in the 100 fly. Paula touched the wall in 45.87, while Adama finished in 45.97.
Ben Bricca and Anthony Laurito tied for third in the 200 back, finishing with matching times of 1:42.47.
Julian Koch placed second in the 100 IM with a time of 47.78.
Vova Gavrysh added a runner-up finish in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 1:45.03.
Freshman Miles Blackson-Dunbar turned in a strong performance in the 50 free, placing third with a time of 19.69.

Top Ten Times
1st - 200 Back: Charlotte Crush (1:48.31)
1st - 200 Free Relay: Camille Spink, Jillian Crooks, Leah Tigert, Charlotte Crush (1:25.66)
2nd - 100 Free: Camille Spink (45.91)
2nd - 100 Back: Charlotte Crush (50.09)
5th - 100 Back: Madison Kryger (50.99)
5th - 200 Breast: Drew Eubanks (1:53.22)
7th - 100 Free: Leah Tigert (47.82)
7th - 200 IM: Ella Jansen (1:55.31)
9th - 100 Breast: Drew Eubanks (51.92)
10th - 200 Free: Madison Kryger (1:43.23)