What at one point looked like a disappointing repeat of the 2022 season where Virginia could not overcome late season struggles turned into exhilaration at Disharoon Park Sunday afternoon.
The Cavaliers have made moves in an effort to establish themselves toward the top of the conference for the coming years.
After a scalding-hot start, the Cavaliers have lost two of their last three conference series.
Virginia’s pitching proved to be the difference as the Cavaliers improved to 17-0 at home this season.
The loss marks Virginia’s 10th in their final 11 games, a disappointing end to a season that began with such promise.
The Cavaliers showed incredible resiliency in defending their home floor to earn their first victory since Jan. 15 against Boston College.
The loss marks the fifth-consecutive defeat for Virginia and the seventh-straight time the Tar Heels (17-5, 8-3 ACC) have bested the Cavaliers dating back to 2018.
The schedule has not been kind to Virginia as of late — the bout with Notre Dame marked the Cavaliers’ third road game against a top-10 opponent since the calendar flipped to 2023.
After suffering its first loss of the season in Durham Dec. 21 against Duke, Virginia bounced back at home, earning a 69-63 win over Georgia Tech Thursday.
With the decisive victory over the Bears, the Cavaliers improved upon their best start to a season since 1991 and kept red-hot as they head into ACC competition.
