There were no happy endings or glorious predictions for the Virginia women's basketball team as they hung up their uniforms this season - only a plane to catch and a bit of soul-searching to do.
The Cavaliers, who finished 18-14 after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, believe one thing is certain, however. Coach Debbie Ryan struggled with her health following off-season surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her pancreas and underwent treatments during the season, but her players say she will stay on for at least another year.
"I know Debbie loves basketball with all her heart," senior forward Svetlana Volnaya said. "I totally believe she's going to come back. She's all about basketball ... We're like her daughters."
Junior guard Telisha Quarles was more adamant. "She'll definitely be here" next year, she said.
Assistant coach Nikki Caldwell pointed out that Ryan's players played an integral part in her recovery. The Cavaliers were "actually a driving force for coach Ryan," she said. "She used the team to motivate her to get better. Energy-wise, she was into it."
The Cavaliers, however, struggled with inconsistency and could not find a reliable field captain or a rhythm on the court. After the 81-71 overtime loss to Michigan in South Bend, Ind., in the tournament, Virginia took a serious look at its future and found great reassurance in the performances of its younger players.
"Our expectations [for the season] weren't met," Caldwell said. "But I thought we had a lot of highlights throughout the season. Different players stepped up different times."
Highlights from the bench, where most of the Cavaliers' youth sat, came at the most unexpected times. Sophomore Marcie Dickson posted a career-high 21 points in a 76-73 double-overtime win over Wake Forest on Jan. 28. Freshman guard Anna Prillaman also was a pleasant surprise.
Prillaman "played whatever position was asked of her" with surprising poise for a freshman, Caldwell said.
But not all of Virginia's standouts came off the bench. Sophomore Schuye LaRue led the team in scoring (18.1 points per game), rebounds (11.8 per game), assists (89) and minutes played (1,042). She earned a spot on the All-ACC first team, ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding and led the ACC in scoring in conference games by averaging 19.5 points.
But with all the talent the team possessed, Virginia never found the winning streak it needed to be considered a national power.
"It was a learning experience," Quarles said. "This year has been up and down, and yeah, we definitely didn't meet expectations."
The graduation of point guard Renee Robinson, a natural leader, and consistent forward Lisa Hosac from the Virginia's team last year hit the squad hard and likely was a cause for its troubles. Without Hosac's defense and Robinson's guidance at point guard, the Cavaliers struggled find a natural leader.
"Last year we had more experienced players," Volnaya said.
Quarles will be among the returning players that will have to step up next season. She plans to attend a leadership camp over the summer.
"I'm going to be the only senior, so I'm definitely going to have to show leadership skills," Quarles said.
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