STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State men's and women's swim teams plan to face tough competition this fall at the U.S. Open, and in meets against seven teams who placed in the Top 20 at last year's NCAAs.

Both the men's and women's teams will be traveling to the U.S. Open in Long Island, NY on November 29 through December 1. The annual meet gives top swimmers from across the country, including former Olympians, the chance to come together for some fierce competition.

This year the teams' first home meet will be against West Chester, Bucknell, and Villanova at the McCoy Natatorium on November 10, All-American day. Preliminary competition begins at 10 a.m. and finals begin at 3 p.m..

The women will face fifth-ranked California, and Virginia, last year NCAA's 12th place finisher at their first away meet, the Continental Airlines Classic in Houston, Texas on November 9. In January, they will travel to five away meets including competitions against Florida, who claimed eighth place at last year's NCAAs, Indiana, who placed 13th and Michigan, who took 18th.

The men will face last year's NCAA fifth place finisher, Florida, on January 5, and last years 10th place finisher, Michigan, at home on January 18 and 19.

Big Tens will be held at the University of Michigan's Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor February 21 through the 23 for the women, and at the University of Indiana's Counsilman/Bilingsley Aquatics Center in Bloomington February 28 through March 2 for the men.

 - Men's and Women's schedules attached - Women's Swimming and Diving 2001-02 Schedule October 26 Intersquad* 4 p.m. November 9 Continental Airlines Classic 6 p.m. @ Houston, Texas 10 Rice Invitational 10 a.m. @ Houston, Texas 10 West Chester/Bucknell/Villanova*10 a.m. 3 p.m. 18 Virginia 1 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec.1 U.S. Open All Day @ Long Island, NY January 2-5 Georgia Diving Invitational All Day 5 Florida 1 p.m. 18 Michigan 4 p.m. 19 Northwestern 1 p.m. 25-26 Indiana/Michigan State 6 p.m./All Day February 2 Rutgers* 12 p.m. 21-23 Big Ten Championships All Day @ Ann Arbor, Mi. March 2 Penn State Invitational* All Day 15-16 NCAA Diving Pre-Quals All Day @ Annapolis, MD 19-23 U.S. Senior Nationals All Day 21-23 NCAA Championships All Day April 5-7 U.S. Diving Pre-Quals All Day 9-14 U.S. Diving Nationals All Day * indicates a home meet at Penn State's McCoy Natatorium Men's Swimming and Diving 2001-02 Schedule October 26 Intersquad* 4 p.m. November 10 West Chester/Bucknell/Villanova*10 p.m./3 p.m. 18 Virginia 1 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec.1 U.S. Open All Day @ Long Island, NY January 2-5 Georgia Diving Invitational All Day 5 Florida 1 p.m. 18-19 Purdue/Michigan* 6 p.m./10 a.m. February 2 Rutgers* 12 p.m. Feb. 28-Mar.2 Big Ten Championships All Day @ Bloomington, In. March 2 Penn State Invitational* All Day 9 Last Chance Invitational* All Day 15-16 NCAA Diving Pre-Quals All Day @ Annapolis, Md. 19-23 U.S. Senior Nationals All Day @ Minneapolis, Minn. 28-30 NCAA Championships All Day April 5-7 U.S. Diving Pre-Quals All Day 9-14 U.S. Diving Nationals All Day * indicates a home meet at Penn State's McCoy Natatorium --LIONS--