After a month off, both the Ohio State men’s and women’s swim teams are rested and ready for the water.

The women’s team (6-1) will compete in back-to-back home meets this weekend, first facing Akron tonight. The men’s team (6-0) will join them in the Big Ten Conference season opener against Indiana University tomorrow.

OSU men’s swimming coach Bill Wadley said he expects positive results from the men this weekend.

“We want to do well every time,” Wadley said. “We expect that every week will be better because it’s later in the year.”

Saturday’s meet will present the season’s first conference opponent. But senior Nicholas Rees, who competes in the freestyle and butterfly, said he tries not to get distracted by an opponent’s status — in this case, the also undefeated Hoosiers.

“I think it’s important to give 110 percent every time,” Rees said. “I don’t try to focus on them being a Big Ten team, or their ranking. They’re another team and another challenge.”

The team relays provide a large portion of the team points and could be the biggest key for OSU this weekend.

With no meets in December, the men’s team used the break to prepare for the winter season. Wadley said the team spent a week in the Bahamas after finals.

But it wasn’t all fun in the sun for the Buckeyes.

“It was a pretty intense training camp,” Rees said, describing the two practices held each day, until the team’s return to Columbus Dec. 21.

The women’s team is excited to finally compete after being off since November.

“I think we’re ready to step it up a bit,” said junior distance swimmer Stephanie Raezer. “Indiana is really good, and it’ll let us see where we really stand.”

Indiana was runner-up in the Big Ten Championships last year and lost only because of a relay false start, said OSU women’s swimming coach Jeanne Fleck.

But this year’s batch of Hoosiers, ranked 14th nationally, may need a break before they even arrive in Columbus on Saturday.

“They are going to be beat up,” Fleck said. “They’re flying in from Florida the night before and driving up the morning of the event.”

Saturday will also be Senior Day for the women’s team. Stacy Lowry, Nicole Hamilton, Kim Bojko and Amanda Treleaven will all be recognized, with their names to be announced before starting the meet.

But before the Buckeyes face Indiana, they must tough it out against Akron tonight.

“Akron is going to come after us,” Fleck said. “They want to upset the big school in Ohio, so we can’t take them lightly.”

Akron boasts a talented team and Fleck said that OSU’s sprint freestyle swimmers could be the most important.

“Katie Severson needs to step up and make some strides forward,” Fleck said. “She’s someone we rely on very heavily.”

Lowry also knows that the Buckeyes can’t overlook Akron.

“We have to get ready and swim on Friday,” she said. “Then regardless of how we do Friday, we have to be ready to step it up on Saturday.”