The Virginia women's rowing team joined forces with ACC mate North Carolina to compete in the ACC/Big Ten Regatta against Big Ten representatives Michigan and Ohio State at Lake Monticello on Saturday. Sports Illustrated for Women deemed Virginia the fourth-best crew team in the nation, Michigan State the sixth and Ohio State the ninth in its preseason poll.
Despite those rankings, the Big Ten proved to be the better rowing conference that day, as the Wolverines and the Buckeyes combined for 10 wins in 16 races against the ACC teams.
The Cavaliers lost the first varsity four and first varsity eight competitions to Ohio State and Michigan. Virginia's first varsity eight boat finished 8.2 seconds behind the Wolverines with a time of 6:40.8. The Cavaliers' first varsity four lost to Michigan by a 7.7-second margin and finished the race in 6:42.9.
Against Ohio State, Virginia's first varsity eight rowed faster than it did against Michigan and finished in 6:37.0. But the Cavaliers still came up short, as the Buckeyes crossed the finish line in 6:29.4. The first varsity four race was more competitive, but the Cavaliers lost once again when Ohio State's 7:31.2 beat Virginia's 7:34.3.
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The Cavalier second varsity four and first novice eight walked away undefeated for the day. Both boats won their races against Ohio State and Michigan. Virginia's second varsity eight split its two races and beat the Buckeyes after losing to the Wolverines.
Virginia will host Williams College at the Rivanna Reservoir starting 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Softball bats 1.000
After sweeping the Who's Hoo Tournament this weekend, the Virginia softball team swept the ACC weekly softball awards.
Junior pitcher Kristen Dennis won ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after she finished a perfect 3-0 in the Who's Hoo Tournament. In 15.2 innings of work, Dennis gave up just two earned runs, struck out 21 and issued only three walks. This season, she is 10-3 with a 1.03 earned run average and has struck out 115 and walked 14 through 81.1 innings.
Dennis, however, relinquished the ACC Player of the Week honor that she won the week on March 14 to teammate Meg Young. Young, a senior right fielder, hit .500 with three doubles and a home run in the weekend tournament. She also tallied five RBIs and scored six runs.
Lacrosse-ing guard
Virginia junior defender Mark Koontz earned a share of the ACC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Week award for his outstanding defensive play in the No. 9 Cavalier men's lacrosse team's quadruple-overtime win Saturday. Virginia defeated No. 5 Johns Hopkins, 9-8. Koontz splits the honor with Maryland goalkeeper Pat McGinnis.