The women's crew team was ranked sixth in the nation in the pre-season Varsity Eight Coaches poll. Princeton was ranked No. 1, the first of four Ivy League schools in the top 10.
The Cavaliers will open their regular season on March 26 against Michigan and Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.
Virginia finished sixth in the team competition of the 2004 NCAA Rowing Championships. Last spring, Virginia won its fifth consecutive ACC title.