The Longhorns will head up to SMU’s Perkins Natatorium for its first official meet this weekend. The tournament will last two days starting at 6:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

Unlike traditional dual meets, the No. 9 Longhorns can only bring eight swimmers and one diver. They will go against USC, Florida, SMU, North Carolina and Louisville. All six teams, including Texas, are nationally ranked.

“I have never been to this sort of meet before,” first-year head coach Carol Capitani said. “We are going to see how one-third of our team is performing right now and how fit they are.”

Texas won the meet last year, but for the swimmers who have been training intensely, it’s more about the experience than the results.

“Our times are less of a concern,” senior swimmer Laura Sogar said. “It’s important getting out there, racing and practicing mental toughness.” Capitani, who is excited for her first meet as head coach, is more focused on her swimmers than the beginning of her coaching career.

“I just want them to race tough and maybe surprise some people,” Capitani said.