Women’s Basketball
What: Virginia vs. Mississippi State
When: Friday at 9 p.m.
Where: Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss.
The Skinny: Looking to have a strong start to the season, the Cavaliers open their 2017-18 campaign taking on No. 7 Mississippi State in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Bulldogs have been ranked in the Top 10 for 20 straight weeks. Virginia returns nearly its entire roster, including senior forward Lauren Moses who has started in every game of her collegiate career.
Returning All-ACC freshmen that are now in their sophomore years will look to make a bigger imprint on the court in their second campaigns. Sophomore guard Jocelyn Willoughby and sophomore guard Dominique Toussaint hope to add to their impressive first year scoring totals, which are 9.8 and 9.5 points per game, respectively.
Last season the Cavaliers managed to win 20 games, just falling short of an NCAA tournament bid.
Mississippi State comes off one of the best seasons in their history, posting a school-record 34 wins and an NCAA Championship game appearance.
The battle begins at 9 p.m. Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss.
— compiled by Garrett Schaffer
Swim & Dive
What: No. 23 Virginia men vs. No. 17 Louisville and Princeton; No. 16 Virginia women vs. No. 10 Louisville and Princeton
Where: Aquatic and Fitness Center
When: Friday, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.
The Skinny: The No. 23 Virginia men’s and No. 16 women’s swim and dive teams will host Louisville and Princeton in a two-day home meet this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11.
The Cavalier men defeated Duke 169-131, while the women won 182-115 in their home opener last Friday, Nov. 3.
Virginia freshman Emma Seiberlich won both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke, while Virginia sophomore Mary Claire Tansill won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke against Duke.
For the men, Virginia junior Brendan Casey won the 1000-yard and 500-yard freestyle, Virginia junior Bryce Keblish won the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard individual medley and Virginia freshman Matthew Otto tied the 100-yard and won the 200-yard breaststroke. Keblish posted an NCAA B Standard time of 48.21 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly.
The Princeton men’s team won its only meet of the season thus far 150-117 last Friday against Nova Southeastern. The women’s team competed against both Nova Southeastern and Miami on Friday, winning 219-73 and 198.5-100.5, respectively.
Louisville has not won in two meets thus far this season. Last Thursday, the women lost to Tennessee 156-144, while the men lost 170-130.
The meet will begin Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
— compiled by Colin Cantwell
Wrestling
What: Virginia vs. Kent State; Virginia vs. No. 12 Rutgers
Where: Albany, N.Y.
When: Saturday
The Skinny: The wrestling season continues into its second competition as Virginia travels to Albany this weekend, taking on Kent State and No. 12 Rutgers in a pair of dual matches.
The Cavaliers are set for an exciting season. A combination of veteran experience and explosive young talent is sure to make them a dangerous team this year.
This mix of youth and maturity was on display last weekend at the Clarion Open, the Cavaliers’ opening competition.
Victorious were both junior captain Will Schany and redshirt freshman Louie Hayes, who is ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Hayes won with a 7-4 decision at 125 pounds, and Schany claimed first with an 8-5 decision at 174 pounds.
Hayes will certainly have a challenging matchup Saturday against nationally-ranked Rutgers sophomore Nick Suriano, a Penn State transfer who dominated the wrestling circuit last year.
Action begins from Albany Saturday morning.
— compiled by Zach Zamoff
Volleyball
What: Virginia vs. No. 22 Louisville; Virginia vs. Notre Dame
Where: Cardinal Arena in Louisville, Kentucky; Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Skinny: The Virginia women’s volleyball team is preparing for consecutive battles against two ACC heavyweights. On Friday, the Cavaliers (7-8, 3-11 ACC) will travel to Louisville, Ky. for a match against the Cardinals (18-6, 12-2 ACC), before heading up to South Bend, Ind. for another division match against the Fighting Irish (17-8, 7-7 ACC).
Louisville will enter Friday as the No. 22 ranked team in the NCAA, and second in the ACC. The Cardinals boast an impressive 9-1 home record and a conference-leading five-game winning streak. They earned a 3-1 match victory over the Cavaliers Oct. 8 in Charlottesville.
The Fighting Irish visited Charlottesville Oct. 6, also taking three of four sets against the Virginia. They’ve struggled lately, however, and have dropped three of their last four matches. Notre Dame will compete against the Virginia Tech Hokies (9-16, 3-11 ACC) Friday, before hosting the Cavaliers for a match set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Though certainly an underdog in both matchups, Virginia is coming into the weekend on a hot streak of its own — they Cavaliers have won two straight matches and three out of the last four, losing just five sets during that span. Virginia sophomore Jelena Novakovic has shined during the Cavalier’s streak, with over 42 total kills and a season-high 18 kills in Virginia’s most recent victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-13, 7-7 ACC.)
If Virginia can continue its solid play, a big upset could be in store for division rivals Louisville and Notre Dame.
— compiled by Lucas Fanning-Haag
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