Two ACC powerhouses from the south will travel to Charlottesville this weekend to close out the season against the Virginia women's tennis team. After two wins last weekend, the Cavaliers are ready for the challenge.
No. 49 Virginia (10-8, 4-5 ACC) meets No. 5 Clemson (17-3, 8-1 ACC) Saturday. The tough competition for the Cavaliers will continue Sunday when Virginia plays No. 4 Georgia Tech (18-4, 8-1 ACC).
Virginia comes into both of these matches following two strong wins last weekend against Boston College (4-14, 0-9 ACC) and Maryland (8-11, 1-7 ACC) that not only improved the Cavaliers' rankings, but also boosted the team's confidence.
"A lot of coaches will say that you learn more and have more to grab onto when you lose a match," Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said. "I don't believe that -- not for this year and not for this team. I think we needed to win and we needed to look at the things that helped us to achieve those wins. We need to make sure we continue to do those things, to grab onto the positive things and hold on to them. That's where the wins help us a lot."
This season has been difficult for a team just starting to become comfortable in a very talented and loaded ACC. Doubles pairs finally have settled and have shown great improvement from match to match. The team's ability to evolve has helped its versatility.
"I think one of the most important things about this team is that it is continuing to come together and to grow, specifically in ways where the players push each other within the team as much as the coaches do," Guilbeau said. "They really trust each other and they have a high standard for one another. That stuff can come together at the very last part of the season and make all the difference. We still have plenty left in us."
If the team pulls off a first-round ACC Tournament win, it has a strong chance of entering the NCAA Tournament, a goal for every team each year.
For the most part, however, coming into this weekend, rankings in the ACC are set to remain where they are currently. This means the team has little to lose from its matches against Clemson and Georgia Tech and has an opportunity to gain experience and confidence.
"I'm really excited about this weekend," freshman Brintney Larson said. "We're coming into this and we pretty much have nothing to lose. I feel like last weekend we played so well so we have so much confidence right now. I'm excited for the team."
Saturday's match against Clemson begins at 11 a.m. and the match Sunday against Georgia Tech begins at 1 p.m., both at the Snyder Tennis Center.
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