Field Hockey
What: No. 9 Virginia (2-0) vs. Rutgers (2-0) and No. 15 Princeton (0-0)
When: Friday, 3 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: Bauer Track and Field, Piscataway, NJ; Princeton, NJ
The Skinny: The Virginia field hockey team goes on its first road trip of the young 2015 season this weekend, with a slate of games that includes its second ranked opponent of the year. With a win Friday, the Cavaliers have will started five of the past seven seasons 3-0.
Virginia will look to sophomore midfielder Tara Vittese to continue her hot start to the season. The Cherry Hill, NJ native was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for her multiple goal, multiple assist performance on opening weekend.
The Cavaliers have never lost to Rutgers, albeit the two squads have only faced off twice. A year ago, Virginia narrowly edged the Scarlet Knights by an overtime score of 4-3 in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers have never traveled to Rutgers.
Princeton will be another solid early-season test for Virginia, as the Tigers are returning four players from 2014’s All-Ivy League team. Additionally, despite posting their first losing season since 2004 a year ago, the Tigers still managed to make the NCAA tournament.
—compiled by Ryan Taylor
Volleyball
What: Fairfield Inn & Suites Cavalier Classic: Virginia vs. Virginia Commonwealth, Appalachian State and Iowa State
Where: Memorial Gymnasium
When: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The Skinny: The Virginia volleyball team welcomes Virginia Commonwealth, Appalachian State and Iowa State to Memorial Gymnasium this weekend for the Fairfield Inn & Suites Cavalier Classic. The Cavaliers (1-1) posted a trio of four-set wins at last year’s invite, dispatching LIU Brooklyn, Navy and Alabama for its first 6-0 start since 2003.
The Friday night matchup with VCU (2-2) offers coach Dennis Hohenshelt’s team a chance to turn the tables on the Rams, who edged Virginia in five sets last year. VCU returns senior outside hitter Kalah Jones, a two-time All-Atlantic 10 second-team selection, as well as sophomore outside hitter Jessica Young, who earned A-10 All-Rookie honors in 2014.
Appalachian State (3-1), meanwhile, is coming off straight-set wins against Clemson — who Virginia topped twice last season — and Garner Webb. Offensively, the Mountaineers lean heavily on senior Paige Brown, the Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year and distributer of 3,300 career assists. Senior outside hitter Emily Corrigan has tallied 1,026 kills in three-plus seasons.
Lastly, Iowa State began the season ranked No. 21 nationally but dropped out of the AVCA Coaches poll after a 3-0 loss to Marquette last Saturday in Ames, Iowa. Senior Caitlin Nolan, an AVCA All-American and Big 12 Libero of the Year in 2014, paces the Cyclone defense. Led by 11th-year coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, Iowa State has made nine consecutive NCAA tourneys.
—compiled by Matthew Morris
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