Virginia beat its second top-two opponent of the season.
“What you see [now] is just a different person," Coach Shannon Wells said.
The Cavaliers have not lost to the Hokies since 2018.
With a forced fumble, a redzone interception, a missed kick and an overtime field goal, the Cavaliers took down the No. 8 team in the country — here’s how they did it.
This game proved Virginia’s toughness.
"We're a better serving team than that," Coach Shannon Wells said.
“First thing I’m thinking is, oh my god, we did it,” fourth-year College student Joey Burch said. “The second thing I’m thinking is, wow, this goalpost has to come down.”
For the entirety of regulation, Virginia managed just one shot on goal. In a vacuum, one would think that lack of offense resulted in a loss — but Coach Ole Keusgen and company had other plans.
"This one's been a lot different," Odom said during a press conference Sept. 10.
Oulouheu celebrated accordingly, springing into a double handspring and two backflips. The celebration received roars and clangs from Klöckner’s metal bleachers, a release for a fanbase that had watched Virginia struggle to score all month.
“[Playing with passion and precision is] something [Elliott] talks about a lot,” Josey said. “You have to play with a lot of aggressiveness, but if you don't play with details, you're not going to win.”
To quote Coach Tony Elliott, “Adversity is the companion of the champion, the enemy to the weak.”
The victory was Virginia's fourth ACC win this year.
“Right now with where we're at, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Wells said. “We just have to play better.”
With a lighter travel squad for Saturday’s exhibition at Navy’s Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md., the Cavaliers staged a scrimmage-style meet with a couple of twists.
Despite the loss, the Cavaliers showed might against one of the best teams in the nation.
Virginia Athletics lost $50,000 yesterday. But no one is really complaining.
Virginia played the first of a series of qualifying tournaments for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships.
“Do I think we’re one of the top 10 teams in the country?” Gelnovatch said. “I do.”
The Cavaliers triumphed in the first of two games out West.
