Starsia family brings success to two sports
By Jack Bird | October 23, 2008?Like father, like son? is a common clich
?Like father, like son? is a common clich
In all sports, injuries can derail the entire season of a team, and the mark of a program that succeeds season after season comes in part from its ability to overcome unexpected personnel losses.
The Virginia men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams travel to South Carolina this weekend to take on South Carolina and Clemson.
Imagine for a second that you are Rip Van Winkle.Instead of sleeping for 20 years, however, you have only been asleep for 20 days, since Friday, Oct.
Midweek Virginia men?s soccer games are supposed to be less than challenging than conference matchups.
The revolution is upon us.No, I?m not talking about massive political or social upheaval.
If you had to describe Virginia?s football season so far in one word, what would that word be?I?ve been asking people that question since Saturday?s game, and there have been quite a few interesting choices.
The reigning ACC champion Virginia men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams are looking to harness some of their individual talent for another dominant season in conference and national competition.Last year, the men and women captured ACC titles.
It took 1:35 for sophomore quarterback Marc Verica to be a hero.For the first 57:38 Saturday against North Carolina, Verica had done very little to put his team in the scoring column.
Kentucky debuted a new line of jerseys in front of 23,000 fans. Kansas unveiled a new team and a championship banner to the delight of the 16,300 in attendance at Allen Field House.
A quick glance at the ACC volleyball standings shows Virginia ranked fourth to last, yet the Cavaliers (12-9, 4-5 ACC) are keeping their chins up.Despite splitting the weekend pair of ACC games, despite holding a 1-3 ACC record at home, the Cavaliers are playing their best volleyball of the season right now.The team is ?sticking through it, working through it,? coach Lee Maes said.The Cavaliers may sit in the bottom third of the ACC, but their place in the standings could be misleading.
Non-conference games can the perfect way for a Virginia team to relocate its stride, especially when those non-conference opponents come from minor conferences.
If Virginia decided to pay homage to the 2007 season Saturday, it did a good job of doing so.
As Virginia surmounted its improbable comeback and students streamed onto the field at Scott Stadium Saturday following the team?s 16-13 overtime victory against North Carolina, my foot was lodged firmly in my mouth for two reasons.One was that no one is allowed to cheer in the press box, and my shoe was the best object available to absorb my gleeful hollering.
These are some likely thoughts that passed through Virginia students and fans? minds with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter and Virginia down 10-3:?We have to drive 82 yards in that little time left???How is Verica going to pass the ball when he?s struggled during the game???Well, it looks like Virginia?s not really that good.?Admittedly, all of those thoughts went through my head, and in what will go down as one of the greatest games in recent U.Va.
The sun shone through the windows of Memorial Gym, fans were on their feet, pump-up tunes blasted through the speakers ? life was good for Virginia?s volleyball team early Sunday afternoon.
The Virginia field hockey team failed to improve upon its lopsided road record Saturday, losing to No.
The Virginia men?s cross country team finished in sixth place with 205 points in the Men?s 8k White Race at the Pre-NCAA meet this past weekend, a solid showing in competition against 39 of the nation?s best teams.
The No. 14 Virginia men?s soccer team suffered its first defeat in more than a month, falling 1-0 loss to Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
The Virginia women?s soccer team?s last three games have demonstrated how any ACC matchup can be a struggle.