As the weather in Charlottesville begins to heat up, so too do the bats of the top-ranked Virginia baseball team.
Three years before senior David Pastore won his first collegiate event in a one-hole playoff at the Jim West Intercollegiate, he did not compete in a single tournament for the Virginia men’s golf team. The next year, he was not even on the team.
Though the Cavaliers slipped up Saturday in a 7-1 loss, the team had its run-prevention talents on full display in Friday’s opener and Sunday’s finale, twice quieting the predatory Tiger bats for a low-scoring, one-run win.
In the final two home matches of the season, the No. 5 Virginia men’s tennis team celebrated the careers of its seniors — Alex Domijan, Justin Shane and Ian Uriguen — clinched its 11th consecutive ACC regular season title and broke an all-sport ACC record.
Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Virginia football fans of all ages streamed into the sun-painted Scott Stadium for the Cavaliers’ annual Orange-Blue Spring Game to catch an early glimpse of the newest version of Virginia football. “We will be a different team [this fall], but the good thing about it, you know, every aspect of the team we have is improving,” coach Mike London said.
The Cavaliers were riding a four-game win streak, including two upsets over top-10 teams, but fell to No. 2 Maryland Sunday, 13-8.
The No. 8 Virginia men’s lacrosse team has been in a slump ever since its win against Syracuse March 1. In an effort to turn its season around and qualify for the ACC Tournament against No. 2 Duke — a team that has given them troubles in the past — the high-octane Blue Devil offense overpowered the Cavaliers, 17-15.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Cavaliers took on the sixth ranked team in the nation Thursday evening.
After losing in the final minutes in last weekend’s game against ACC rival No. 4 North Carolina, the No. 8 Virginia men’s lacrosse team returns home to face No. 2 Duke in the Cavaliers’ last chance of the season to improve its ACC regular season record.
“The Skinny” on weekend matchups for baseball, women’s tennis and softball
Sophomore right-hander Aimee Chapdelaine started off the Virginia softball team’s Wednesday doubleheader against Delaware State by twirling a four-hit, complete game shutout in an 8-0 win called after five innings. Then, she stepped back on the mound and one-upped herself, blanking the Hornets on two hits and a walk in the Cavaliers’ 2-0 victory.
For the four seniors of the No. 4 Virginia women’s tennis team, upsetting top-ranked Duke at home, reaching a program-best No. 3 ranking twice and looking ahead to a potentially deep postseason run are just some of the highlights of their final season. As the younger players continue to be the faces of another successful season, these veteran players play a major behind-the-scenes role in helping the team strive in ways not always visible on the court.
The No. 5 Virginia men’s tennis team hosts No. 23 Wake Forest and No. 32 North Carolina State on Friday and Saturday for their final home matches of the regular season. With wins over both squads this weekend, the Cavaliers (17-2, 8-0 ACC) would clinch at least a share of the regular season ACC title for an unprecedented 11th consecutive year.
Three straight wins have given the No. 16 Virginia women’s lacrosse team a much-needed jolt of confidence. The first two were dominant performances against Old Dominion and American, respectively, but the win against No. 11 Notre Dame on Saturday is where they showed true progress against a conference opponent.
Tuesday night in Harrisonburg, the Virginia baseball team defeated in-state rival James Madison, 9-3, for its second win against the Dukes in 2014. The No. 1 Cavaliers (28-5, 12-3 ACC) were powered at the plate by sophomore right fielder Joe McCarthy and junior left fielder Mike Papi, who each swatted a home run and finished the game with four RBI.
The No. 10 Virginia men’s golf team shattered program records to open the week, shooting a 45-under 819 to win the Jim West Intercollegiate in McKinney, Texas by 29 strokes over second-place Iowa State.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the Hungry Huskies. This is what happens when you ban us!” When Shabazz Napier barked those words at the world after his Connecticut team won the men’s basketball national championship against Kentucky Monday night, he triggered a deluge of reactions. More than that, he reminded everyone of the polemic debate engulfing the NCAA.
Over 59 games at UVa, fan favorite Teven Jones averaged 1.7 points. The meager stat lines hardly do justice to his impact off the court.
In the midst of a down year, the Virginia softball team has dropped 11 straight games entering its home doubleheader against Delaware State on Wednesday.
Year after year, Boland has fielded teams filled with players that could have forgone the collegiate track and gone straight to the Tour. Yet, players with outstanding junior careers have joined Virginia, a testament to Boland’s ability to develop professional players.
