FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's and women's swimming and diving teams are on the road to face Delaware on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Rawstrom Natatorium in Newark, Del.

The Patriots opened the season with first place finishes at the Potomac Relay Invitational held at American University on Sept. 29.  Mason won 15 of the 18 events overall against teams from American, Georgetown and Howard.  The Mason women's team claimed seven of nine events, while the men's team won eight of nine relays.

"Although it's a fun and non-stressful way to start the year, it's also really important that we see how the team is reacting to training and how they race," Mason head coach Peter Ward said.  "That's a really important part of the Potomac Relays, to learn a little something from that meet that helps us when we get into our traditional season with dual meets."

The Patriots swept the Blue Hens last season, with the women's team earning a 167-127 victory while the men's team posted a 184-114 win against Delaware.

On the women's side, Amy Tansill won the 100-yard breaststroke, Rachel Williams took first place in the 100-yard freestyle and Dorothy Reilly posted a win in the 100-yard backstroke. 

On the men's side, Matthew Lynch was first in both the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly, Steven Craig finished first in the 1000-yard freestyle and Alec Morin swam to a victory in the 100-yard freestyle last season against the Blue Hens.

The Delaware women's team dropped its opener 186-114 to Georgetown, while the men's team fell to the Hoyas 175-125 on Sept. 30 at Rawstrom Natatorium.

"We are looking to improve on the road," Ward said.  "Our championships are in Ohio, so we need to learn to be good on the road and we have set up our schedule for that.  We'll certainly look for the seniors to fill some big shoes both in the pool and with the leadership they'll provide to bring the group together."