The Virginia women's basketball team will officially open its season tonight in Washington, D.C., when the Cavaliers take on the Colonials of George Washington University.
Virginia's probable starters are forward Tiffany Sardin, center Siedah Williams and guards Sharnee Zoll, Brenna McGuire and Takisha Granberry.
The Cavaliers have never lost to George Washington, posting a 9-0 record since the teams first met in 1979. The last meeting, in 2000, resulted in a 72-66 Virginia victory. The two have not played in Washington since 1982.
The Colonials received four votes in the Associated Press's Preseason Rankings and finished the 2004-2005 campaign with a 23-9 record. Virginia coach Debbie Ryan knows the team will have its hands full defending its spotless record against George Washington.
"It's going to be a dogfight," Ryan said. "This is a very good team, [they are] very well coached, they play a great schedule. It will be a very, very good game."
One of the key matchups will be the Sardin against Colonials redshirt senior Jessica Simmonds. Sardin, the lone senior on the Virginia roster, will tangle with Simmonds, who earned a second-team all-conference selection in 2004-2005.
"We've been working hard all preseason long," Sardin said. "We're at the point now where it's time to get ready to play."
The Cavaliers will continue their out-of-conference schedule Sunday with the season home-opener against the Wright State Raiders. While the rest of the student body enjoys a week off, the Cavaliers will participate in the Paradise Jam, a round-robin tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Virginia will play its second home game and first of two games against Ivy League opponents, taking on the Harvard Crimson Dec. 3.
After the Harvard game, Virginia plays three games over the following two weeks: at Seton Hall, at Richmond and at home against the Marshall Thundering Herd.
As part of the annual Cavalier Classic, the Cavaliers will host Yale Dec. 28 and either Boston University or Holy Cross the following day.
Virginia will usher in the new year against Middle Tennessee State before closing out the block of non-conference games against Marquette Jan. 4.
The Cavaliers also play Longwood during a break in ACC play Feb. 14.
Performing well in these games could go a long way toward determining whether or not Virginia can navigate its way back to the NCAA Tournament.
"We want to get 20 wins again," Zoll said. "We are striving to get back to the Tournament. "
Ryan is also aware, though, that these early games are vital in bringing the team together as a unit and finding out which combinations of players work best.
"The out-of-conference schedule means a lot in terms of the NCAA [Tournament]," Ryan said. "You really have to be prepared for every team, but at the same time, you've got to figure out what your team is all about. You've really got to spend as much time on your team as you do on the other team."
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