The Virginia crew team will travel to Clemson, S.C. to compete in the ACC championships on Lake Hartwell tomorrow. The Cavaliers are the top-ranked team in the NCAA's Southern division and are coming off a performance that won the first varsity eight ACC crew of the week.
The No. 11 Cavaliers historically have dominated the ACC championships, winning the past two years. Last year Virginia won the first varsity eight, second varsity four and second varsity eight races to win the tournament.
Despite Virginia's strong history, the ACC has been getting faster, and now boasts the No. 18 and No. 24 teams in the nation in Duke and Clemson, respectively, in addition to Virginia.
"It's going to be a surprise because we haven't seen Clemson or North Carolina, but we have seen Duke," junior Amanda Kennedy said. "The first time we saw Duke we beat them pretty easily, but we know they got a lot faster because they were running head and head with Michigan."
Even if Virginia has not raced Clemson or North Carolina, they know the competition is starting to close in and target the Cavaliers.
"These crews have not been to NCAAs but they're right on the cusp of doing it," coach Kevin Sauer said. "Obviously they're after us, and they are coming on fast."
Last week the Cavaliers overcame stiff competition in a come-from-behind victory over Columbia to win their seventh straight George Washington Invitational. Virginia was down with 500 meters to go in the race, but pulled ahead of Columbia to finish with a time of 6 minutes, 35.1 seconds. The Cavaliers defeated Columbia, Tennessee and Navy.
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The Cavaliers also have the experience of competing against the best teams from across the country. Virginia has rowed against Washington, the No. 1 ranked team in the Western division of the NCAA, Michigan and Ohio State, the No.1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the Central division. Of these teams, Washington was the only one Virginia did not beat this season.
Throughout the season, Sauer has been changing lineups trying to find the best personnel for the different boats.
"We've made quite a big change, and have had a couple of really good days this week," he said. "I'm pretty happy, I want to settle into something that's close to this I think."
Last week the first varsity eight consisted of coxswain Betty Shumaker, Hayley Nunn, Madeline Engel, Molly Baker, Lauren Mitterer, Jen Reck, Meg Van Dam, Carolyn McMillen and Kennedy.
"The first varsity eight coxswain moved to the first varsity four and the varsity four moved to the eight," Sauer said. "We added one new kid to the first varsity eight" who has not been on the first eight before.
After the ACC championships, the Cavaliers still will have two regattas before the NCAA championships in Indianapolis, Ind. Virginia will row against Boston University April 27 before competing in the prestigious Eastern Sprints in Camden, N.J.
But the Cavaliers have to compete in ACCs before they go on to Eastern Sprints and NCAAs.
"We have work to do first, we do not look ahead, believe me," Sauer said. "You've got to respect your opponent or you are going to get beat."
"I think we're ready for ACCs," Kennedy said. "I don't think anybody is nervous"
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