LOS ANGELES - The No. 6 USC men's swimming and diving team opened the 2000-2001 dual meet season against No. 13 Arizona State on Friday (Nov. 10) at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium, taking a decisive 125-80 lead over the Sun Devils.

The diving portion of the meet, which won't affect the outcome of the meet but will change the score, will take place Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m.

No. 4 Arizona was scheduled to race against the Trojans as well, but were delayed by a flight and will compete against the Trojans on Saturday (Nov. 11).

USC sophomore Erik Vendt, a silver medalist in the 400-meter IM at the 2000 Summer Olympics, won three races, taking the 1000-yard freestyle in 9:13.13 and winning both the 200y backstroke (1:49.38) and the 200y breaststroke (2:05.73).

Trojan junior Tamas Kerekjarto won a pair of events, finishing first in both the 200y IM (1:51.12) and the 200y butterfly (1:49.94).

USC finished 1-2-3 in the 1000y free as juniors Mark Warkentin (9:20.15) and Joel Everman (9:31.95) finished right behind Vendt. The Trojans also finished 1-2-3 in the 500y free as Warkentin won in 4:34.19 and was followed by Everman (4:39.13) and freshman Matt Peterson (4:39.16). USC senior Gabe Woodward won the 50y free in 20.90.

Arizona State senior Scott VonSchoff was the Sun Devils' only individual winner, taking both the 100y free (45.13) and the 200y free (1:39.20). The Sun Devils also won both the 400y medley and the 400y freestyle relay.