With an NCAA Tournament bid on the line, it's crunch time for the No. 34 Virginia women's tennis squad, which heads down to North Carolina for its final road trip of the season to face off against conference rivals N.C. State and Wake Forest.
Virginia enters the weekend coming off disappointing losses to No. 1 North Carolina 4-3 and to No. 5 Duke 5-2. Although the Cavaliers had chances to win both matches, the squad failed to seal the deal, sputtering out down the stretch.
"It just kind of shows ourselves and shows everybody else that we're there with the very elite teams in the country," freshman Erin Vierra said. "We do have a lot of work to do just in like closing out these matches, as a team and as individuals. Like we know we can beat these girls - it's just a matter of bearing down at the end and having the confidence to close it out, so I think it gives us some good experience to learn how to do that."
At this stage in the season, a 10-7 overall record with 3-4 in the ACC may not be exactly where the Virginia coaches wanted the team to stand. It can be difficult, however, for a team to raise the caliber of its play this late in the game.
"It's not just what happens on that match day - it's what takes place six, seven months before this that largely dictates if you get through those matches," coach Mark Guilbeau said. "You gotta make it happen from the beginning - you can't wait for the very end."
That does not mean, of course, that the Cavaliers cannot defeat their weekend opponents, which are either similarly ranked to or ranked below Virginia. No. 32 N.C. State (9-8, 1-6 ACC) enters this weekend's play fresh off a string of losses, falling 7-0 in three of its last four games. Meanwhile, while Wake Forest (7-11, 1-5 ACC) is currently ranked No. 50 after having lost a tough match to No. 13 Florida State 4-3.
Both teams also have had several lineup changes, which seemingly could benefit the Cavaliers. But the unpredictability is making it more difficult for Virginia to prepare.
"It's hard to really get an exact read because they've changed their lineups a good bit, so I don't have maybe as specific matchups as we would in some instances," Guilbeau said. "N.C. State's been hurt a little bit, and I think now they're more at full strength, which is going to be positive for them."
Guilbeau also noted that Wake Forest had been playing without sophomore Martina Pavelec, who was ineligible. Now at the No. 1 spot, though, Pavelec adds a great deal of depth to the Deacons' lineup, he said.
Regardless of these challenges, Guilbeau continues to stand by his players, emphasizing their drive and desire to reach the national tournament.
"I think that just mentally and emotionally the kids need to know that there is no real difference - you know you're still playing a tennis match, and to be honest these teams are now, on paper, right where we are, so it's really not that big of a dynamic change," Guilbeau said. "We're not playing the No. 1 or 5 team in the country, but these are good teams. So I don't think it changes a whole lot. I think we gotta be extremely hungry right now - the rankings have now put us in a position where we're playing to try to make the NCAA Tournament, which is a very important goal."
With four matches left, that goal is still well in reach for the Cavaliers, but the road will not be easy.
"We're playing all strong teams - I mean everyone in the ACC is a strong team - but I definitely think we can and we need to win all of these matches," Vierra said. "We're definitely capable, as we showed this weekend, and I'm confident that we're going to be able to do that."
After these two contests, Virginia will resume ACC play at home the following weekend against conference rivals Georgia Tech and Clemson.
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