A quarter-century of NCAA women’s volleyball has passed since Virginia last made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Coach Shannon Wells and the Cavaliers made progress toward changing that statistic after receiving a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, giving Virginia just its third postseason appearance in program history.
Entering Wells’s fifth season, which begins Friday against Georgetown, the Cavaliers are determined to end the 25-year streak and keep making history.
While the Cavaliers are intent on building upon their momentum from last season, things will look much different this year in many ways. Five of Virginia’s starters from 2024 have graduated, leaving room for new and younger players to fill in and make their mark. This, however, does not worry the Cavaliers.
“[This is the] most talented gym we’ve ever had since I’ve been here at U.Va.," Wells said. “We’re physical. We hit the ball really hard. We’re super competitive. We’re just very green.”
Seven new players will take the court for Virginia — three transfers and three freshmen. Meanwhile, senior defensive specialist Kate Johnson is the only senior who started her career with the program. Even with a robust, talented roster of five senior players, Virginia will certainly need some time to adjust to Wells’ system.
Wells cited confidence in a range of players — both new and returning — to take over in leadership roles and foster a strong team culture.
“What we try to do is look … who's organically great leaders and who, organically, the team follows,” Wells said. “But then how do we get representation in every single class? I think we'll be a group that is led by committee this year, and so the art of it is figuring out whose voice we need to lean on in certain situations.”
On the court, Virginia can be expected to be led by Johnson, returning sophomore setter Zoey Dood and junior outside hitter Lauryn Bowie. All three have been reliable forces on the court in their entire time with the Cavaliers, and Dood was even named to the All-ACC Freshman team last season.
Senior outside hitter Kadynce Booth and senior middle blocker Kate Dean will also return from last year’s team. Dean, a starter in every match last season, led the team in attack percentage last year.
On top of roster changes, the Cavaliers have also been preparing for a location change, as Memorial Gymnasium, their home court, will be closed for renovations all season. Since its closing, Virginia has been practicing at the North Grounds Recreation Center, but they will be playing five of its matches at John Paul Jones Arena and the rest at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. It has not been confirmed yet which matches will be played where.
“Playing five matches in John Paul Jones Arena this season is a milestone for Virginia volleyball, the most we’ve ever had in one season in this amazing venue,” Wells said in the press release announcing the matches. “JPJ’s energy is electric and every match there feels like something bigger than the game.”
The Cavaliers have played one exhilarating match at JPJ in each of the past two seasons, setting an attendance record two years ago and winning both matches. Wells cited excitement over bringing an energetic volleyball crowd back to the arena. But the AFC will be a different — and new — challenge.
“We talk a lot about choosing hard,” Wells said. “We chose hard. We chose to be here, and so an opportunity to play at AFC, it is going to be hard … We’re going to embrace it, and if it’s hard for us, imagine what it’s going to feel like for our opponents.”
On top of a relocation and the pressure to build off its historical season last year, Virginia’s talented team will certainly face challenges in its opponents as well. Of the Cavaliers’ 24 opponents, nine advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, with five being listed in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason rankings.
Virginia will begin its regular season on the road, playing three matches in Washington, D.C., against Georgetown, George Washington and Howard this weekend. ACC play does not start until Sept. 27, when the Cavaliers will face a difficult opponent in No. 6 Stanford.
Four more ranked ACC opponents will follow later in the season, most notably No. 3 Pittsburgh on the road November 9. Virginia’s ACC play will most heavily determine its standing in the postseason, but is sure to be challenging all the way through the regular season.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Wells said. “We talk a lot about bird by bird … if we could just be where our feet are and work on getting one percent better every day, ultimately, we’ll reach our goals.”
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