Last year, the Maryland women's swimming and diving team took Virginia by surprise, and took the ACC title along with them. The Cavaliers, who had previously captured two straight ACC titles, finished 65.50 points behind the Terrapins. This year, though, it will not be Maryland that stops Virginia from taking the title.
"Maryland has done a 180," senior backstroker Brielle White said. "They've been struggling all year. It's a completely different team, different coaches, basically it's under a new administration. I'm not even thinking about Maryland."
To further prove the point, the Cavaliers -- who have suffered regular season losses to the Terrapins for the past two years -- blew Maryland out of the water this past weekend, knocking off the Terps, 124-84. But the elimination of Maryland as a threat does not secure the ACC title for the Cavaliers.
Florida State "is probably going to be our hardest competition," senior Rachel Burke said. "They have every relay. Relays can win you a meet."
To make the challenge even tougher, Virginia has yet to face the Seminoles this season, leaving them unsure what to expect.
Virginia's perennial rival, North Carolina, also cannot be overlooked. The Tar Heels finished directly behind the Cavaliers the past three years, and defeated them each of the three years before that.
"North Carolina and Florida State will be right behind us, or right in front of us -- you never know," White said. "UNC and Florida State definitely will be right there beside us -- it's going to be so exciting."
Despite such tough competition, though, the Cavaliers have reason to be confident. After facing some of the toughest teams in the nation this season, Virginia is still 5-3 overall and more importantly, 3-1 in the ACC.
"I think we have a great chance" of winning, Burke said. "We've worked hard all year long. Every single team that we're competing against has already shaved and tapered. They've already shown what they have, they've shown their best, and we haven't. So I think we're really going to go out there and surprise people."
Still, Virginia will have a close race if they hope to take the title back. Last year, the Cavaliers were ranked 12th overall and were 10-2 on the year. But even with a 5-1 record in the ACC, the team still came in second in the Tournament. This year, however, the Cavaliers have an even greater motivation because of that loss.
"We're the underdogs going into this," Burke said. "Especially after coming off such a disappointing season last year, I think that every person on this team is ready to go out there and win. So I think we have a great shot."
For some members of the team, however, there is more of a personal incentive.
"I want it bad," Burke said. "I think that our senior class meant a lot to this team, and they mean a lot to us to. We have seven girls that have been here from day one for four years, so I think every single one of us really wants to go out there and get a ring. I think it would really mean a lot to us."
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