With seven seniors approaching their final shot at an NCAA tournament berth, workouts this summer took on a new sense of urgency for the Virginia field hockey team.
Rather than returning to their respective hometowns for summer jobs or internships, several players remained on Grounds for all or part of the summer to train as a group. Many split time between class and training, according to a summer program designed by the coaching and strength training staffs. It included six days of running and three days of weight training per week. Possibly most important, however, was the time spent on the turf working on the technical and tactical aspects of the game.
"We tried to do a weekly pick-up [game] this summer so that people who weren't playing on a summer league team could play and get a stick in their hands," senior Allie Flynn said. "Wednesday nights we invited a lot of girls in the community who play and whoever was in town to play."
The dividends are paying off already. Virginia looked strong against both VCU and Ball State over the weekend. Despite intense heat on the field, the Cavaliers outworked Ball State for all 70 minutes en route to a decisive win. The sustained endurance of the entire team impressed head coach Jess Wilk.
"We were able to perform at a fairly high level, even though we were playing back-to-back [games] in less than ideal weather conditions," Wilk said.
Although this season may carry loftier goals, such a level of commitment is nothing new for the field hockey team.
"I've stayed almost every summer, and most of the girls in my class do too," Flynn said. "There's usually a good chunk of the team here during the summer."
In addition, Wilk and her coaching staff assign each player a training partner over the summer to ensure accountability throughout the offseason.
"It's much easier to work out with your teammates and work out at a higher level," Flynn said. "Especially if you're running with people who are running for the same things, that need to be training for the same things."
Wilk said she is hoping the team will be able to maintain its high fitness level throughout the season, as the importance of the games increases down the stretch.
Last season, the team faltered in late October and did not survive to see the second week of November, dropping its final four games.
"We're looking to be better than we were last year and be back in the [NCAA] tournament," Wilk said. "I think [the players'] summer training put them in a much better place coming into preseason and because of it, we're further along. Hopefully when we peak in November, we'll be in the right place."
Wilk also was quick to point out that the team took both North Carolina and Wake Forest to the edge before eventually losing, a fact that spurred the team to work even harder over the summer.
"They felt like they were right there," Wilk said. "They just needed a little extra something to get them over the hump."
If this past weekend was any indication, Virginia will have no problem enduring the rigors of the season.
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