After a productive off-season, the Cavaliers will head into Saturday's opener against Indiana with an air of confidence. Among the changes that occurred over the spring and summer were the naming of head coach Michele Madison and associate head coach Chris Spice. The Cavaliers also managed two solid performances in their preseason scrimmages and a No. 19 national ranking in the STX preseason poll.
Players attribute the productive spring and summer months to the remodeled coaching staff, practices three times a day and a strict training regimen.
"It's been great," senior Katherine Blair said, commenting on the arrival of Madison and Spice. "They bring a new outlook, a new coaching style and a new coaching system."
The successful off-season couldn't have come at a better time either. After six straight losses to close the 2005 season, topped by the embarrassment of not winning a single conference game, there was some concern about Virginia being able to develop a respected field hockey program. The team, however, seems to have put that idea on the back burner.
"Preseason went extremely well," said senior midfielder Mia Link. "You can see that in our games against Penn State and American."
The Cavaliers tied Penn State and defeated American -- both of which are ranked in the STX preseason top 10 -- in preseason scrimmages.
This year, Madison will be relying on Link, Blair and senior Biffy Cornelison to help guide the team to a winning season.
"They'll have to be the backbone for our team and provide the leadership this year," Madison said.
However the players seem very capable of fulfilling these expectations. Link, Cornelison and Blair all return for their senior season with impressive resumes. Blair, who started fourteen games last year, will return as goalkeeper. Cornelison and Link will come back having already played in over fifty games each during their career at the University.
"We have a strong group of leaders that have been together for a long time," Blair said. "We recognize the need to mentor the younger players."
The new faces on the team include sophomore Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn and freshman Fenna Breitbarth. Both from the Netherlands, the two are already making a positive impact on the team.
"They bring a whole new dynamic to our game," Link said.
No matter how many good things have come out of the spring and summer months, the team still faces an up-hill climb to the top of the ACC. The Cavaliers will face 10 teams in the preseason top-10, including No. 1 Maryland, No. 2 Wake Forest and No. 3 Duke.
Despite the tough schedule, the Cavaliers head into Saturday's opener against Indiana with a positive attitude and a clear set of objectives.
"Our goal has always been to make it to the ACC Tournament," Link said. The difference is that we are much more capable of doing it this year. We have eleven good starters and a lot of depth. Everyone is ready for a change."
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