FAIRFAX, VA -- The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will head to George Mason University for this week’s annual Colonial Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships at GMU’s Jim McKay Natatorium.

The meet, being held at George Mason for the seventh straight year, will get underway on Wednesday morning, Feb. 22 and run through Saturday, Feb. 25. In addition to Delaware, other teams competing will be host George Mason, Northeastern, William & Mary, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, Davidson, Towson, Old Dominion, Drexel, and College of Charleston.

UNC Wilmington has won each of the last four men’s team titles while George Mason has captured the last four women’s team championships. The Blue Hens will be competing in the meet for the fifth time since joining the CAA in 2001-02.

The meet will begin Wednesday with the women’s three-meter diving preliminaries and follow with the 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. Thursday’s action will include the 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, men’s one meter diving, and 400 medley relay while Friday’s slate includes finals in the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, women’s three meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay.

Saturday’s final day of action will close with championships in the 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and 400 freestyle relay.

The Delaware men will be looking to improve upon last year’s 10th place finish after finishing ninth in 2002 and 2003 and 10th in 2004. The Delaware women placed ninth a year ago after finishing fourth in both 2002 and 2003 and fifth in 2004. The Blue Hen men are still looking for their first individual CAA championship and their first individual conference title since 2001 when Mike Gallaher won the America East 1,650 freestyle title. The UD women have captured CAA 11 titles, including Sara Stephens’ victory in the 200 butterfly last season.

The Delaware women, who posted a dual meet record of 11-2 this past season, including a 6-1 mark vs. CAA opponents, will be led by Alyson Oliver in the diving events, Lauren Southard in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, Emily Smathers in the 200 backstroke, Emily Watts in the 100 backstroke, Ellen Heinz in the 500 freestyle, Meredith Law in the 400 individual medley, Kellie Pastore in the 200 breaststroke, and the 400 medley relay team.

The Delaware men, who went 4-8 in duals, including a 1-5 mark against CAA foes, is led by Matt Abbruzzese in the diving events, Andrew Zinn in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, and Joe Virion in the 1,650 freestyle.