Following his performance in last weekend’s 166-132 win over sixth-ranked Florida, Auburn senior Matt Targett was named the Southeastern Conference’s Swimmer of the Week for the third time this season, the league announced Tuesday.

A native of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, Targett picked up three victories in the win over the Gators. 

Targett started the day with a victory in the 200 free with a time of 1:37.03.  The race was his the first in the 200 free this season. 

Next, his time of 19.65 in the 50 free set a new top-time and fell under the NCAA “B” cut.  Targett entered the Florida dual meet having already fell under the “B” cut time after recording a 19.73 against Georgia on Nov. 14.

Minutes later in the 100 free, Targett completed the hat trick, touching in at 43.22.  While under the “B” cut time, Targett already holds an NCAA automatic qualifying time with his 41.93 at the US National Short Course Championships Dec. 6.

Members of the Auburn swimming and diving teams return to action this weekend at the Ralph Crocker Invitational held at the James E. martin Aquatics Center from Friday-Sunday.

Women’s tennis opens dual season
The No. 27 Auburn women’s tennis team will open the 2009 dual season at No. 8 Georgia Tech today at 2 p.m. in Atlanta at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.

The Tigers will also play in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend against No. 40 Louisville on Saturday in Clemson, S.C., at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center at 3 p.m.

“Georgia Tech is a very solid program and very well coached,” head women’s tennis coach Tim Gray said. “They will be ready, that’s for sure. I feel that we are hungry and the team is definitely looking forward to competing. We will need to play well from top to bottom to beat this team.”

Georgia Tech boasts four nationally ranked singles players and a pair of doubles teams. Among the ranked Yellow Jackets is defending NCAA Singles champion and 2008 ITA National Player of the Year Amanda McDowell.

The Tigers will then travel to Clemson to compete in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.

Auburn will meet 40th-ranked Louisville in the first round on Saturday.

No. 11 Clemson and No. 45 Boise State will also be in action.

“We are very excited to take on Louisville,” Gray said. “They are a very solid team and we will have to be focused and at our best
both physically and mentally.”

There are 15 host sites around the country for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Teams that go 2-0 at their respective site will qualify automatically for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Madison, Wis., next month. The meet is cheduled for Feb. 13-16